2021 NASCAR Cup Series Spring Bristol Race Page

Food City Dirt Race
POSTPONED TO Monday, March 29, 2021
Bristol Motor Speedway
Time: 3:30pm/et
TV: FOX -  Radio: PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR
Stages end: 100 / 200 / 250
Competition Cautions: Lap 50 & 150

Race-Specific News

Race Information

Joey Logano leads final 61 laps to win NASCAR’s dramatic return to dirt racing: Joey Logano made history on Monday afternoon. Leading the final 61 laps in the face of a determined charge by Denny Hamlin, Logano won the rain-delayed Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the first dirt-track race for the NASCAR Cup Series since 1970.[Read More](3-29-2021)

#22-Joey Logano won the Food City Dirt Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The win is his 1st of the year, 3rd win at Bristol (but first on dirt) and 27th career win.
#47-Stehnhouse, Jr. finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #99-Suarez, #6-Newman, #24-Byron, #8-Reddick, #12-Blaney, #43-Jones, and #9-Elliott.
The race ended after one attempt at Overtime.  The caution came out with 4 laps remaining when #66-Marlar lost a tire and hit the frontstretch wall. Logano led at the caution and was not challenged on the restart.
Pole sitter #5-Larson, had to start in the rear for an engine change, was caught in an accident early in the race, and struggled to a 29th place finish, 5 laps down.
Stage 1 was won by #19-Truex. Stage 2 was won by #22-Logano.
There were 5 lead changes among 5 drivers and 10 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 46.313mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Race Fast Facts – Bristol:
Joey Logano won the 61st Annual Food City Dirt Race, his 27th victory in 442 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in his series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt. Logano is the 77th different driver to win on a dirt track in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (second) posted his first top-10 finish in his series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt. It is his first top-10 finish in 2021.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his first top-10 finish in his series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt. It is also his sixth top-five finish this season.
Chase Briscoe (20th) was the highest finishing rookie.
The 2021 season is the fifth different season in the NASCAR Cup Series Modern Era (1972-Present) to start with seven different winners in the first seven races; joining 2014, 2003, 2000 and 1991.
(NASCAR)(3-29-2021)

Cup Series Playoff Standings after Bristol:
(race 7 of 26 in the regular season)
1) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 269
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [1 win], 247
3) #5-Kyle Larson [1 win], 242
4) #24-William Byron [1 win], 228
5) #12-Ryan Blaney [1 win], 226
6) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 186
7) #34-Michael McDowell [1 win], 183
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 327 [point leader]
9) #2-Brad Keselowski, 232
10) #4-Kevin Harvick, 225
11) #9-Chase Elliott, 211
12) #3-Austin Dillon, 186
13) #18-Kyle Busch, 183
14) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 180
15) #1-Kurt Busch, 173
16) #48-Alex Bowman, 172
See the Driver Points Standings and Owners Point Standings.

Paint schemes

Cars to the rear: #5-Larson (engine change), #34-McDowell (engine change), #21-DiBenedetto (engine change)

Due to overnight weather and forecast, the Sullivan Co. flood warnings and safety concerns, NASCAR has postponed all of Sunday’s on-track activity.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt will now take place on Monday at Noon ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race will now take place on Monday at 4 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

#5-Kyle Larson earned the pole for the Food City Dirt Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
#11-Hamlin has the second starting spot, followed by #12-Blaney, #18-Busch, #19-Truex, Jr., #4-Harvick, #48-Bowman, #24-Byron, #3-Dillon, and #22-Logano.
However, Larson will have to drop to the rear at the start due to an engine change Friday.
The lineup was set by the qualifying metrics, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap after rain forced the cancellation of heat races on Saturday evening.
See the complete starting order on the Food City Dirt Race Starting Lineup page.(3-27-2021)

Final Practice for the Food City Dirt Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes. The top five were:
#12-Ryan Blaney, 89.223 mph
#48-Alex Bowman, 89.135 mph
#11-Denny Hamlin, 88.986 mph
#22-Joey Logano, 88.836 mph
#14-Chase Briscoe, 88.613 mph
Slowest: #78-Shane Golobic 86.141 mph
Most laps run: #11-Hamlin, 80
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 33 drivers): #5-Kyle Larson, 87.340 mph
See the complete results on the Food City Dirt Race Final Practice speeds page.(3-26-2021)

First Practice for the Food City Dirt Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is over after 50 scheduled minutes. The top five were:
#48-Alex Bowman, 89.308 mph
#20-Christopher Bell, 88.999 mph
#18-Kyle Busch, 88.898 mph
#11-Denny Hamlin, 88.819 mph
#5-Kyle Larson, 88.609 mph
Slowest: #51-Cody Ware 85.260 mph
Most laps run: #9-Chase Elliott, 68
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 31 drivers): #5-Larson, 87.167 mph
Notes: #19-Martin Truex Jr. and #53-JJ Yeley (twice) both went for spins in the session.
See the complete results on the Food City Dirt Race First Practice speeds page.(3-26-2021)

The lineups have been set for the four qualifying heat races for the Food City Dirt Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The first three races will have 10 drivers, the final will have nine. Lineups were set by random draw determining race designation and starting position. The draw was in order of current owner points.
#00-Houff and #5-Larson start up front for heat 1; #2-Keseelowsli and #66-Marlar for heat 2; #48-Bowman and #53-Yeley for heat 3; #7-LaJoie and #21-DiBenedetto for heat 4.
Heat races will be 15 laps with only green flag laps counting.
See all lineups on the Food City Dirt Race Heat Race Lineups page.

Crew Rosters

Goodyear Tire Notes

The Entry List for the Food City Dirt Race NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Chris Windom, #53-JJ Yeley, #66-Mike Marlar, #77-Stewart Friesen, #78-Shane Golobic, #96-Ty Dillon.
See the full entry list on the Food City Dirt Race Entry List page.

2021 Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway CUP TandemDraft Stats

There will be two practice sessions on Friday and four qualifying heat races held on Saturday.

Bush’s Beans Practice Day will take place Friday, March 26, and will feature two scheduled practice sessions for both the NASCAR Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series. As part of Bush’s Beans Practice Day, the hour-long Cup Series practices will be held at 4:05 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. Two hour-long practices also will be held for the Camping World Truck Series, at 3:05 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.

Four 15-lap heat races in both the NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series will be conducted to determine the starting lineups for each main race. Bush’s Beans Qualifying heat races for the Food City Dirt Race in the Cup Series will be held at 6:00, 6:15, 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. The four Bush’s Beans Qualifying heat races for the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt will be held at 4:30, 4:45, 5:00 and 5:15 p.m.

Format:

  • Heat Race Starting Lineup – Random draw determines heat race designation and starting position for the heat race. The draw will be in order of current owner points.
  • Qualifying Heat Races – Four qualifying races held at 15 laps each with only green flag laps counted – no overtime rule. Free pass and wave around procedures will be in effect.
  • Passing Points – Drivers will accumulate points in the heat races based on finishing position and passing points. The points total determines the starting position for the feature event.
    • Go backward or finish where you started – zero passing points
    • Passing Points = The difference between assigned starting position and finishing position
    • Go forward – accumulate passing points
  • Tiebreaker – Owner Points
Finish Points
1 10
2 9
3 8
4 7
5 6
6 5
7 4
8 3
9 2
10 1
  • Feature – Lineup based on combined points of Heat Race finishing position and passing points. Feature race will be 250 laps (NCWTS: 150 laps) divided into three stages (NCS: 75/150/250) / (NCWTS: 40/90/150). Running order will be frozen at the conclusion of each stage. During the stage breaks, teams can change tires, add fuel and make adjustments to their cars/trucks. These non-competitive pit stops must be completed in a time designated by NASCAR (TBD). No fuel or tires except at stage breaks. (Note: Teams will not be required to pit during the stage breaks. Teams that elect not to pit will re-start ahead of teams that pitted. Re-start order determined by the freeze at the conclusion of the preceding stage)
  • Additional Event Highlights – Choose rule will not be in effect for the Bristol Dirt race. The overtime rules, free pass and wave around procedures will be in effect.
  • If there are more than 40 teams entered, the four open cars with the most heat race points (finish and passing points) will make the race.

Weekend on-track schedule

Thursday, March 25
4:00 PM NCS RANDOM DRAWING (QUALIFYING RACE ASSIGNMENT) (VIRTUAL)
4:30 PM NCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING (VIRTUAL)
5:00 PM NCS ROOKIE MEETING (VIRTUAL)
5:30 PM7:30 PM DRIVER/OWNER MOTORHOME PARKING (SCREENING IN PROGRESS)

Friday, March 26
*INFIELD ACCESS LIMITED – APPROVED PERSONNEL ONLY*
8:30 AM-10:30 AM NCS HAULERS ENTER (SCREENING & EQUIPMENT UNLOAD)
12:00 PM-8:30 PM NCS TEAM ACCESS SCREENING IN PROGRESS
12:00 PM-10:00 PM NCS GARAGE OPEN
4:05 PM-4:55 PM NCS 1ST PRACTICE
6:35 PM-7:25 PM NCS FINAL PRACTICE

Saturday, March 27
*INFIELD ACCESS LIMITED – APPROVED PERSONNEL ONLY
1:00 PM-6:00 PM NCS TEAM ACCESS SCREENING IN PROGRESS
1:00 PM-9:30 PM NCS GARAGE OPEN
6:00 PM NCS 1ST QUALIFYING RACE (15 LAPS)
6:15 PM NCS 2ND QUALIFYING RACE (15 LAPS)
6:30 PM NCS 3RD QUALIFYING RACE (15 LAPS)
6:45 PM NCS 4TH QUALIFYING RACE (15 LAPS)

Sunday, March 28
*INFIELD ACCESS LIMITED – APPROVED PERSONNEL ONLY*
9:00 AM NCS TEAM ACCESS SCREENING IN PROGRESS & GARAGE OPEN
3:20 PM NCS DRIVERS REPORT TO VEHICLES (GRID LOCATION)
3:25 PM NCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS (DRIVERS STANDING BY CARS)
3:30 PM NCS RACE (STAGES 100/200/250 LAPS = 125 MILES)
7:00 PM NCS HAULERS EXIT