This week the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series travel to Britsol for the annual dirt race. Once again Mother Nature intervened with rain storms, cancelling practice for all of the drivers.
In typical dirt race fashion, the Cup Series drivers must run qualifying heats to determine the running order Sunday’s race.
Rick Ware Racing has announced that their driver Cody Ware is stepping away from the track this week to attend to a personal matter. Truck Series veteran and two time champion Matt Crafton will step in to drive the number 51 car.
This weekend also marks major milestones for two Cup Series drivers when Joey Logano will make his 700th career Cup Series start and Kyle Busch will be making his 650th career Cup Series start.
The 37 Cup drivers will be divided into four groups – one of 10 cars and three with nine cars – to run a 15 lap qualifying heat race where only the green flags will count.
The heat race groups were determined by a random draw with the drawing order based on car owner points.
Not only will the drivers receive points for their finishing positions like at the end of a stage; but will also receive a point for each car they pass during the race based on their starting position. For example if a driver starts sixth but falls back before moving forward and finishes the race in fourth place, he would earn only two passing points. There are no point deductions for finishing a heat in a lower position than where a driver started.
The field will be set by the number of points earned during the heat races. In the case of a tie, the tie breaker will be car owner points.
The starting lineup for qualifying heat race number one:
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Alex Bowman
BJ McLeod
Justin Haley
Austin Dillon
Tyler Reddick
Josh Berry
Christopher Bell
Brad Keselowski
Ross Chastain
Ricky Stenhouse Fr brings the field down for the green flag start of heat number one and takes the lead. BJ McLeod falls back on the warmup lap to tenth place.
Lap three, Austin Dillon takes the lead with Alex Bowman in second; Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and Christopher Bell round out the top five. Stenhouse is falling back in the field.
The caution lfap come out on lap fourAustin Dillon brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap six and holds on to the lead with Tyler Reddick in second; Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Alex Bowman, and Christopher Bell round out the top five. Stenhouse drops to fifth place.
Austin Dillon wins heat number one.
The unofficial results of heat number one:
Austin Dillon
Tyler Reddick
Christopher Bell
Alwx Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Justin Haley
Ross Chastain
Josh Berry
Brad Keselowski
BJ McLeod
The starting order for qualifying heat race number two:
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
AJ Allmendinger
Harrison Burton
William Byron
Aric Almirola
Noah Gragson
Denny Hamlin
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag start of heat number two and takes the lead with Chase Briscoe in second.
Lap four, Denny Hamlin in eighth place is the only Toyota in this heat.
Lap seven, Ryan Blaney has a lead of nearly half a second on Chase Brisoce; William Byron, Harrison Burton, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.
Leading every lap, Ryan Blaney wins heat number two.
The unofficial results of heat number two:
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
William Bryon
Harrison Burton
Aric Almirola
Todd Gilliland
AJ Allmendinger
Denny Hamlin
Noah Gragson
The starting lineup for qualifying heat race number three:
Erik Jones
Corey LaJoie
Ty Dillon
Matt Crafton
Ryan Preece
Kyle Larson
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
JJ Yeley
Erik Jones brings the field down for the green flag start of heat number three and takes the lead.
Kyle Larson comes up from sixth place on the first lap to take the lead with Corey Lajoie in second; Michael McDowell, Erik Jones, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.
Lap four, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly a second on Ryan Preece, Corey LaJoie, JJ Yeley, and Erik Jones round out the top five.
Lap nine, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to under half a second on Ryan Preece; JJ Yeley, Erik Jones, and Michael McDowell round out the top five.
Kyle Larson wins the heat.
The unofficial results of heat number three:
Kyle Larson
Ryan Preece
JJ Yeley
Erik Jones
Michael McDowell
Matt Crafton
Chris Buescher
Ty Dillon
Corey LaJoie
The starting lineup for qualifying heat race number four:
Bubba Wallace
Jonathan Davenport
Daniel Suarez
Ty Gibbs
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Austin Cindric
Joey Logano
Kevin Harvick
Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and takes the lead.
Kyle Busch moves up from sixth to third on lap two.
Lap five, Bubba Wallace holds on to a near half second lead on Jonathan Davenport; Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap eight for a spinning car.
Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap nine and gets out in front for the lead.
Lap 10 Jonathan Davenport gets loose and Kyle Busch takes second.
Bubba Wallace takes the white flag with a third of a second lead.
Bubba Wallace wins heat number four after leading every lap.
The unofficial results of heat number four:
Bubba Wallace
Kyle Busch
Austin Cindric
Jonathan Davenport
Joey Logano
Ty Gibbs
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Daniel Suarez
The choose rule is in play for the dirt race but NASCAR can’t draw an arrow in the dirt; so they have employed a drone with an orange LED light pointing out the choose spot.
After winning 15 points – 10 for the win and five for passing cars – Kyle Larson will sit on the pole with Austin Dillon alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Food City Dirt Race:
Kyle Larson
Austin Dillon
JJ Yeley
Christopher Bell
Kyle Busch
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
Ryan Preece
William Byron
Ryan Blaney
Bubba Wallace
Joey logano
Michael McDowell
Chase Briscoe
Todd Gilliland
Alex Bowman
Ross Chastain
Tony Stewart joins Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the FOX broadcast booth for tonight’s race.
Stages one and two of the race are 75 laps each with stage three lasting 100 laps for a total of 250 laps.
Like the Truck Series race on Saturday night, pit stops will be non-competitive stops. The fancy pit boxes and crews are back at the shops with the mechanics going over the wall to service the cars. Crews have six minutes to fuel the cars, change the tires, and make any adjustments to the cars. Unless they have a flat tire or crash damage, crews can only service the cars during the stage breaks.
In a non-competitive pit stop, the field is frozen and no one can gain positions on pit road. There are no laps during the six minute break for pit service.
Mike Helton announced the first of the 25 drivers that will be added to the top 50 drivers…and it is Smoke himself – Tony Stewart! Over the next week four more drivers will be released. Five drivers per week will be announced until Darlington where NASCAR will have a big celebration with the drivers for their 75th anniversary.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green start of the dirt race at Bristol and gets out in front for the lead. Austin Dillon and Christopher Bell battle for second.
Lap three, Kyle Larson has a lead of over half a second on Austin Dillon; Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.
Lap eight, Kyle Larson continues to lead the race but Austin Dillon has caught up to Larson; Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.
Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace bring out the first caution flag of the race on lap eleven. Todd Gilliland and William Bryon were also involved. Logano got into the water barrels.
Only 15 laps into the race and the front of the cars are covered in red clay.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart 21 from the outside lane and edges out for the lead with Austin Dillon on his bumper.
Lap 22, the top five are Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Preece.
Drivers are getting three wide across the track.
Lap 25, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a near half second lead on Austin Dillon.
After spinning out on the track, Bubba Wallace has moved up in side the top 15 in 14th.
Lap 29, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Austin Dillon; Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lapa 34, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly a second on Austin Dillon; Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Since he ran into the barrels, Joey Logano has moved up eleven spots.
Matt Crafton in the 51 car brings out the second caution flag of the race when he spins out on lap 39. Crafton noted that the car is way way tight.
Daniel Suarez reports that he can’t see out of the right side of his car with all the dirt.
Several of the drivers are reporting very tight conditions.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Kyle Busch on the inside. Larson jumps out in front for the lead with Austin Dillon taking second.
Lap 47, the top five are Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney.
Lap 49, Kyle Busch has already pulled out to a half second lead on Austin Dillon; Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 52, Kyle Busch battles with Austin Dillon – teammates – for second.
Lap 54, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Austin Dillon; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.
Erik Jones and Corey LaJoie make contact and come down pit road for repairs after making contact with each other.
Lap 58, Kyle Larson continues to lead the race and has a second and a half lead on Kyle Busch.
Brad Keselowski spins out and brings out the third caution flag on lap 59.
Ryan Blaney notes that the track is getting pretty slick. His family owns a dirt track in Ohio.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 65 from the outside lane with Austin Dillon on the inside. Larson jumps out in front to hold on to the lead. Teammates Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch continue to battle with one another.
Lap 66, the top five are Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Ryan Preece, and Ryan Blaney. There are 34 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 69, Austin Dillon passes Kyle Busch for second.
The caution flag comes out for a crash just as stage one ended. Denny Hamlin and Josh Berry were involved.
Kyle Larson wins stage one for his second stage wins of the season.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Larson
Austin Dillon
Kyle Busch
Ryan Preece
Ryan Blaney
Christopher Bell
Chase Briscoe
Tyler Reddick
Justin Haley
William Byron
Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Martin Truex Jr, and Ty Dillon stay out on the track while the remainder of the field comes down pit road for service.
After staying out on the track, Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 76 and jusmp out in front. Drivers are spread three and four wide across the track.
Lap 77 Tyler Reddick leads the race with Bubba Wallace close behind; Martin Truex Jr, Ty Dillon, and Kyle Larson round out the top five. Ryan Preece gets into the wall but the track stays green.
Jonathan Davenport brings out the caution flag when he spins out on lap 81. Davenport is a multi win dirt track expert.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart with Martin Truex Jr alongside on lap 87 with Reddick holding on to the lead and Bubba Wallace on his bumper.
Michael McDowell spins out and keeps going but the flag man waved the caution flag anyway on lap 88.
Erik Jones is back on the lead lap after earning two “lucky dogs”.
Joey Logano dominated the Truck Series race on Saturday night, but tonight he has hit the water barrels and the wall. He reports that the toe is knocked out of the car.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 95 with Martin Truex Jr alongside. Reddick gets out in front for the lead with Bubba Wallace taking second. Kyle Busch continues to do some rim riding.
Daniel Suarez spins out on lap 97. Joey Logano is smoking but the track stays green. Logano works his way to pit road.
Lap 98, Tyler Reddick has a lead of nearly half a second on Bubba Wallace.
Michael McDowell spins again and keeps going.
Ty Gibbs gets into the wall but the track stays green.
Lap 101, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, and Ty Dillon.
Lap 103, Kyle Busch passes Martin Truex Jr for third.
Ryan Preece spins out and this time the caution flag does come out on lap 104. He has a broken right toe link.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 111 with Kyle Busch on the inside lane. Reddick jumps out in front to hold on to the lead with Bubba Wallace in second.
Joey Logano becomes the first driver out of the race with 33 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 113, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Ty Dillon.
Drivers are getting four wide across the track.
Ty Dillon gets into the wall but the track stays green. He falls out of the top 10.
Lap 116, Tyler Reddick has a lead of over a second on Kyle Busch; Martin Truex Jr, Bubba Wallace, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap 118, Kyle Larson passes Bubba Wallace for fourth.
Noah Gragson gets into the wall, but threac stays green.
Lap 121, Tyler Reddick has a near one second lead on Kyle Busch; Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Larson, and Austin Dillon round out the top five.
Lap 125, Tyler Reddick leads the race with Kyle Busch in second; Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 126 the caution flag comes out after Brad Keselowski spins out again.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Austin Dillon alongside on lap 132. Drivers are three and four wide through the field.
Tyler Reddick is in the lead with a four wide battle for second.
Lap 134, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson ,and Christopher Bell.
Erik Jones spins out but the track stays green.
Lap 136, Kyle Busch passes Tyler Reddick for the lead.
Ten to go in stage two, Kyle Busch leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 142, Austin Dillon takes the lead briefly before Tyler Reddick retakes the lead.
Lap 144, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch battle for third. Larson takes the spot; but the battle continues.
Lap 147, Christopher Bell joins the battle for third.
Tyler Reddick wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
Kyle Larson
Christopher Bell
Kyle Busch
Chase Briscoe
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Justin Haley
Aric Almirola
Tony Stewart said that it is the first time in the six years since he retired that he wants to be out on the track.
Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Aric Almirola, William Byron, Michael McDowell, Todd Gilliland, Denny Hamlin, Ross Chastain, fand Josh Berry stayed out on the track while the remainder of the field came down pit road for service and adjustments. Earlier several of the drivers remarked that they were tight; now they are saying the cars are loose.
Kyle Larson took fuel only.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 151 with Todd Gilliland on the inside lane and jumps out in front for the lead as drivers get three wide through the field.
Lap 152, Christopher Bell leads the race with Chase Briscoe in second; Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
Kyle Larson spins out and brings out the 10th caution flag of the race. He was in 10th place at the time of the spin. He is in 33rd place after the spin.
Lap 159, Kyle Larson comes down pit road to check the tires.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 160 from the outside lane with Todd Gilliland on the inside. Bell gets out in front for the lead.
With 88 laps to go, the top five are Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, and Josh Berry.Drivers are four wide across the track.
Lap 165, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Chase Briscoe; Aric Almirola, Todd Gililand, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
Denny Hamlin spins out but the track stays green but Hamlin falls to 34th.
Since the restart Kyle Larson has moved up from the back of the field to 25th.
Lap 171, Christopher Bell holds on to a lead of over half a second on Chase Briscoe; Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, and Josh Berry round out the top five.
Lap 176, Kyle Larson gets into the wall and brings out the eleventh caution flag after some contact with Ryan Preece.
Matt Crafton, Kyle Larson, and Jonathan Davenport were on pit road for repairs. Kyle Larson takes his car behind the wall and is out of the race.
Jonathan Davenport is in the infield with a mechanical issue – possible broken tie rod.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with 70 laps to go. Bell gets out in front for the lead with Chase Briscoe and Todd Gilliland in a battle for second.
Lap 182, the top five are Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, Todd Gilliland, and Aric Almirola.
Kyle Busch passes Aric Almirola for fifth.
The top four drivers – Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon, and Todd Gilliland – have won a dirt race in the Truck Series.
Ross Chastain spins out but he gets going and the track stays green.
Lap 190, Chase Briscoe cuts into Christopher Bells lead and is now only a quarter of a second back.
Lap 195, Christopher Bell has increased his lead to over half a second on Chase Briscoe; Austin Dillon, Todd Gilliland, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.
It has been 30 years since Alan Kulwicki died in a plane crash on his way back to Bristol Motor Speedway. Kulwicki is the driver who invent the “Polish victory Lap” – driving the wrong way around the track to pay tribute to the fans.
The 12th caution flag comes out with 49 laps remaining in the race when Noah Gragson spins out.
Christopher Bell’s crew is telling him to save fuel.
Aric Almirola is on pit road for a repair.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Briscoe on the inside with 44 laps remaining in the race. Bell jumps out in front for the lead with Austin Dillon and Chase Briscoe in a battle for second.
Todd Gilliland and Austin Dillon make contact but the track stays green. It allows Chase Briscoe to close in on leader Christopher Bell.
Drivers are four wide in a battle for position.
Just 39 laps to go, Christopher Bell leads the race with Chase Briscoe in second; Tyler Redick, Austin Dillon, and Todd Gilliland rounding out the top five.
Thirty-four to go, Christopher Bell has just a two tenths of a second lead on Chase Briscoe; Tyler Reddick is two tenths of a second behind that; Austin Dillon and Todd Gilliland round out the top five.
Lap 220, Chase Briscoe got loose and Tyler Reddick comes up to challenge for second; Christopher Bell holds on to the lead.
Ryan Blaney passes Todd Gilliland for fifth.
Tyler Reddick passes Chase Briscoe for second.
JJ Yeley spins out but is off the track and the track stays green.
Chase Briscoe gets into the wall again.
With 24 laps to go Christopher Bell leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Austin Dillon Ryan Blaney, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.
Twenty to go, Christopher Bell has a lead of over half a second on Tyler Reddick; Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.
Kyle Busch spins out on the track and brings out caution flag number 13. He brings his car down pit road. There are just 15 laps remaining in the race. He has a broken right rear shock.
There are 29 cars on the lead lap.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Ryan Blaney on the inside with just eight laps remaining in the race. Christopher Bell gets out in front. Ryan Blaney spins out but the track stays green.
Seven to go, Christopher Bell leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Austin Dillon, and Todd Gilliland round out the top five.
Four to go, Chase Briscoe passes Todd Gilliland for fifth.
Austin Dillon passes Ricky Stenhouse Jr for third.
Christopher Bell takes the white flag. A multi car wreck brings out the caution flag.
Christopher Bell wins the race after leading every lap in stage three. The first dirt track driver to win a dirt race at Bristol. Bell is a three time Chili Bowl champion. He is the seventh different driver to win a race this season.
Christopher Bell does a “Polish victory lap”.
The unofficial results of the Food City Dirt Race:
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Chase Briscoe
Justin Haley
Martin Truex Jr
Todd Gilliland
Kevin Harvick
Michael McDowell
Ty Gibbs
Bubba Wallace
William Byron
Erik Jones
Harrison Burton
AJ Allmendinger
Brad Keselowski
Chris Buescher
Austin Cindric
JJ Yeley
Ty Dillon
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Preece
Daniel Suarez
BJ McLeod
Josh Berry
Ross Chastain
Alex Bowman
Corey LaJoie
Aric Almirola
Kyle Busch
Noah Gragson
Matt Crafton
Kyle Larson
Jonathan Davenport
Joey Logano