After two weeks in the desert, the Cup Series returns to the east coast and Thunder Valley for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway…and this time they are back on the concrete!

Divided into two groups, the drivers get a 20 minute practice session before making their qualifying runs.

Last week in Phoenix, it was the first time that one team had all of its drivers lead at least 50 laps in the same race – Joe Gibbs Racing: Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs.

Ty Gibbs reports some issue with his car and has spent much of Group B practice on pit road with the crew trying to diagnose the issue.

Ryan Blaney led Group A practice with Harrison Burton leading practice in Group B.  Bth drivers are in a Ford.

AJ Allmendinger is the first driver in Group A to make a qualifying run and posted a time of 15.848 seconds around the half mile track.

There is little grip on the track and many of the drivers are having difficulties in making their qualifying runs.

Bubba Wallace, Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Ryan Blaney will move on to round two of qualifying.

Austin Dillon is the first driver on the track from Group B to make a qualifying run and posts a time of 15.534 seconds.

Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Josh Berry will move on to the second round of qualifying from Group B.

William Byron is the first driver out on the track for round two of qualifying and posts a time of 15.771 seconds.

With a time of 15.356 seconds, Ryan Blaney puts his number 12 car on the pole with Josh Berry alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Food City 500:
Ryan Blaney
Josh Berry
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Chase Elliott
Chase Briscoe
Michael McDowell
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr
Christopher Bell
Harrison Burton
Kyle Busch
Erik Jones
Zane Smith
Brad Keselowski
Corey La Joie
Ty Gibbs
Daniel Hemric
Austin Cindric
Noah Gragson
Tyler Reddick
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Preece
John Hunter Nemechek
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Daniel Suarez
Alex Bowman
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Dillon
Justin Haley
Kaz Grala
Chris Buescher
Carson Hocevar
Ross Chastain

Stages one and two of the race are 125 laps each with stage three lasting 250 laps.  Drivers can run 175 to 185 laps on a single load of fuel.

Reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with Josh Berry alongside.  Blaney gets out in front for the lead but Josh Berry is already challenging for the lead.

Lap four, Josh Berry pases Ryan Blaney on the inside to take the lead.

Lap five, Josh Berry leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 10, Josh Berry has a half second lead on Ryan Blaney; Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Drivers are starting to move up the track and are working in the higher line.

Lap 17, Bubba Wallace enters the top five.

Josh Berry has a lead of over half a second on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Lap 19, Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blaney for second.

Lap 20, Denny Hamlin is on leader Josh Bery’s bumper.

Lap 21, William Byron gets into the wall but the track stays green.

Denny Hamlin passes Josh Berry for the lead.

William Byron brings his car down pit road for repairs.

Lap 23, the first caution flag of the race comes out for debris.

On his radio, William Bryon said that Joey Logano got into him and the toe link is broken.  The video shows that Christopher Bell made contact with Byron.

The field comes down pit road for service; only Tyler Reddick stays out on the track.

Erik Jones was charged with equipment interference during his pit stop.

After staying out on the track, Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 31 and takes the lead with Josh Berry and Bubba Wallace in a battle for second.

Tyler Reddick spins out on lap 32 after contact from Michael McDowell and brings out the caution flag.  Several drivers get caught up in the melee.  Carson Hocevar hits Reddick after not being able to stop.  Zane Smith, AJ Allmendinger, Corey LaJoie, and Daniel Hemric were also involved.  Reddick’s crew has made repairs and is back on the track two laps down.

Taking the lead when Tyler Reddick spun out, Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart with Josh Berry alongside on lap 39.  Wallace edges out for the lead with Josh Berry in second; Michael McDowell, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 41, Josh Berry passes Bubba Wallace for the lead.  Wallace and Michael McDowell battle for second.

Lap 44, Denny Hamlin comes up on the outside to pass Michael McDowell for third.

Lap 46, Josh Berry leads the race with Bubba Wallace in second; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 48, Bubba Wallace passes Josh Berry on the outside for the lead.

Denny Hamlin passes Josh Berry for second.

The teams have only nine sets of sticker tires in the pit for today’s race.

Lap 51 Bubba Wallace leads the race with Denny Hamlin on his bumper; Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 54, Denny Hamlin passes Bubba Wallace for the lead.

Lap 55, Ryan Blaney passes Bubba Wallace for second; Chase Elliott also passes Wallace for third.

Lap 58, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Rya nBlaney on his bumper.  Hamlin and Blaney are the only drivers that took four tires during the pit stop.

Lap 60 Chase Elliott passes Ryan Blaney for second and Denny Hamlin to take the lead.

Lap 62, Rick Hendricks and Hendrick Motorsports needed just three laps to reach 80,000 laps led; Chase Elliott’s lead has given HMS that milestone!

Lap 65, Ryan Blaney takes the lead.

Lap 70, Noah Gragson brings his car down pit road with reports of a possible tire going down.

Zane Smith blows a tire and brings out the caution flag on lap 71.

Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.  Denny Hamin edges out Ryan Blaney to win the race off of pit road.

After more over the wall pit crew changes this week for the number eight car, Kyle Busch lost three spots on pit road.

Michael McDowell was charged with having too many crew members over the wall.

Tires coming off of the cars on pit road are showing major signs of cording.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 80 with Ryan Blaney in second.

Lap 82, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, and Brad Keselowski.

Chase Elliott is reporting some voltage issues in his car.

Lap 84, Ryan Blaney passes Denny Hamlin for the lead.

Lap 87, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliot battle for third.

Lap 89, Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blan ey to retake the lead.

There have been 15 lead changes in the race so far.  The track record is 40.

Lap 92, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski.

Lap 97, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Kyle Busch; Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 106, Denny Hamlin has a half second lead on Kyle Busch; Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Josh Berry hits the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 110, Kyle Busch has caught leader Denny Hamlin and challenges for the lead.

Lap 113, Denny Hamlin has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Kyle Busch.

Ryan Blaney passes Kyle Busch for second.

Christopher Bell passes Kyle Busch for third.

Kyle Busch reports that his right rear tire is gone completely and is falling through the field.

Lap 119, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, and Kyle Larson.

Ryan Blaney takes the lead with Ty Gibbs in second.

Lap 121, Ty Gibbs takes the lead.

Lap 124, Denny Hamlin gets into the wall with a flat tire.

The caution flag comes out on lap 124 when Kyle Busch spins out with a blown tire.  He is driving backwards down th track and is now one lap down.

Stage one ends under caution with Ty Gibbs winning the stage for his first ever stage win.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Larson
Chris Buescher
Martin Truex Jr
Brad Keselowski
John Hunter Nemechek
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Preece
Josh Berry
Christopher Bell

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road.

Noah Gragson was charged with a safety violation during his pit stop.

Zane Smith had too many crew members over the wall.

Pit reporter Jamie Little reports that Goodyear is mounting more tires and has enough for all of the teams.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 141 with Brad Keselowski alongside.  Larson gets out in front on the outside lane but Ty Gibbs comes up on the outside to pass Larson for the lead.

The top five are Ty Gibbs, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Larson, Josh Berry,  and Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 145, Kyle Larson has dropped to fifith place but reports are that he is in tire conservation mode.

Martin Truex Jr comes up on the outside to take the lead.

There are 28 cars on the lead lap.

There have been 20 lead changes in today’s race among 10 different drivers.

Lap 150, ty Gibbs retakes the lead with Kyle Larson in second; Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 156, Kyle Larson has the lead with Denny Hamlin in second.

Lap 158, Ty Gibbs retakes the lead.

Lap 159, Denny Hamlin passes Kyle Larson for second.

Lap 160, Denny Hamlin passes teammate Ty Gibbs for the lead in the 24th lead change ofh te day.

Lap 172, Ty Gibbs has retaken the lead with Kyle Larson in seocn; Martin Truex Jr, Josh Berry, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.  Kyle Larson has fallen to fifth place.

Daniel Hemric gets into the wall and brings out the caution flag on lap 176; Zane Smith and Ricky Stenhouse were also involved in the wreck.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Chris Buescher winning the race off of pit road.

Ty Gibbs was charged with an equipment interference penalty and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.  A tire got away and a crew member had to come over the wall and then bumped a crewman coming out of his pit box.

Chris Buescher brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside on lap 189.  Buescher gets out in front for the lead from the outside lane.

The top five are Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Larson, and John Hunter Nemechek.

John Hunter Nemechek passes Kyle Larson for fourth.

NASCAR has announced that they will release one extra set of tires once Goodyear has all of them mounted.  BUT, only one extra set.

Lap 204, after having to restart the race from the back of the field, Ty Gibbs has entered the top 20.

There are 28 cars on the lead lap; Kyle Busch is the first car one lap down.

With 41 laps remaining in stage two, Christopher Bell leads the race; Martin Truex Jr, John Hunter Nemechek, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 220, Christopher Bell leads the race with Martin Truex Jr on his bumper; John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Gibbs, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Lap 224, Martin Truex Jr passes Christopher Bell for the lead.  Ty Gibbs is inside the top five in fourth.

Zane Smith is off the track.

Kyle Busch spins out to bring out the caution flag on lap 227 after getting loose.  He reports that he is “plowing tight”.  With eight Bristol wins, Kyle Busch has won over twice as many as any other active driver.

Several of the teams are putting scuffed tires on the cars with less than 30 laps to the end of stage two.

Much of the field comes down pit road for fresh tires with 16 laps remaining in stage two.  Christopher Bell wins the race off of pit road.

Corey LaJoie and Carson Hocevar stayed out on the track.

Ryan Blaney was caught speeding on pit road.

Kyle Busch was charged with a safety violation.

Corey Lajoie brings the field down for the green flag restart with Carson Hocevar alongside on lap 240.  Christopher Bell takes the lead. LaJoie and Hocevar fall through the field on old tires.

Joey Logano battles with Christopher Bell for the lead.  John Hunter Nemechek is right behind them.

Ty Gibbs is in second with Joey Logano leading the race.

Trying to save tires, Christopher Bell has fallen to fifth.

Ty Gibbs passes Joey Logano for the lead on lap 249.

Ty Gibbs wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ty Gibbs
Brad Keselowski
Joey Logano
John Hunter Nemechek
Christopher Bell
Martin Truex Jr
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Bubba Wallace
Kaz Grala

Drivers come down pit road for service with Ty Gibbs winning the race off of pit road.

There is a wheel loose on pit road.

Austin Cindric and Brad Keselowski make contact on pit road.

Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 265 with Martin Truex Jr on the inside.  Gibbs gets out in front for the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second; Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

After starting the race in last place, Mellon Man Ross Chastain has finally entered the top 10.

Lap 279, Ty Gibbs has the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second; Christopher Bell, Todd Gilliland, and John Hunter Nemchek round out the top five.

Lap 284, Martin Truex Jr passes teammate Ty Gibbs for the lead; fellow teammate Christopher Bell is in third.  The fourth JGR car Denny Hamlin is in sixth.

Lap 289, Christopher Bell passes Ty Gibbs for second.

Zane Smith is out of the race.

Kyle Busch is the last car on the lead lap.

Lap 306, Martin Truex Jr leads the JGR cars…and the race; followed by Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keselowski.

Lap 310, Josh Berry gets into the wall after spinning out and brings out the eighth caution flag of the race. 

Harrison Burton was on pit road with an issue when the caution flag came out.  Noah Gragson is the “lucky dog”.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road; followed by Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Larson.

With Denny Hamlin leading the race, he ties the record for the most lead changes with 40.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 323 with Hamlin jumping out in front but Ty Gibbs comes up on the outside to take the lead.

The top five are Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Martin Truex Jr, ad Kyle Larson.

With 31 cars on the lead lap, Ty Gibbs has a third of a second lead on Denny Hamlin; Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and Todd Gilliland round out the top five.

Lap 339, JGR drivers lead the race with Ty Gibbs in front, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell follow; Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 350, Ty Gibbs has dominated the race and holds quarter of a second lead on teammate Denny Hamlin; Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and Brad Keselowski rounds out the top five.

Lap 360, Dniel Hemric bounces off the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 363, Noah Gragson hits the wall but he track stays green.

Lap 365, Denny Hamlin passes Ty Gibbs for the lead.

In 28th place, Kyle Busch is the last car on the lead lap.

Ral drivers are off the pace as the tires have gone away.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Austin Cindric make contact and spin out to brings out the caution flag on lap 368.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Denny Hamlin winning the race off of pit road.  Martin Truex Jr reports a bit of a brake shake.

Kyle Larson was charged with an equipment interference violation on pit road.

Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 380 with Christopher Bell alongside.  Hamlin and Bell battle for the lead with Hamlin getting out in front.

Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs battle for second with Gibbs taking the spot; Martin Trex Jr and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 388, Denny Hamlin has just a tenth of a second lead on teammate Ty Gibbs.

As the laps count down, the speeds have picked up.

Lap 399, Ty Gibbs retakes the lead with Christopher Bell in second; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr , and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Kyle Larson’s equipment interference penalty was for a loose tire rolling away.  He is in 22nd place.

Lap 407, Kyle Larson has entered the top 20.

With 87 laps remaining in the race, Ty Gibbs has a lead of nearly half a second on Christopher Bell; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

With 78 laps to go, Christopher Bell has closed the gap on leader Ty Gibbs to a quarter of a second.

Lap times have slowed down.  With slower traffic in front of them, Denny Hamlin takes the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second. 

Lap 428, Josh Berry makes a green flag pit stop.

Ty Gibbs is reporting that his right rear is causing an issue; he hits the wall but the track stays green.

Several drivers are seeing tire issues with the longest green flag run of the day.

Lap 433, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, and Ty Gibbs.

After nearly crashing, Ryan Blaney comes down pit road.  Kyle Larson has made a green flag stop. 

Lap 138, Josh Berry nearly hits the wall as he tries to recoup his two laps lost during the green flag start.

Christopher Bell has a flat tire but makes it to pit road and the track stays green.

Drivers who have made a green flag pit stop are two laps down.

There are only eight cars on the lead lap.

Just 57 laps remaining in the race with Denny Hamlin leading the race; Martin Truex Jr, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott round out the top five

Ty Gibbs comes down pit road with a flat tire and flaming brakes.

With 52 to go, Denny Hamlin makes his green flag pit stop.

Carson Hocevar hits the wall again but the track stays green.

Brad Keselowski makes his green flag pit stop.

Kyle Busch has a slow pit stop with a loose tire.

With the green flag pit cycle complete, Denny Hamlin retakes the lead with Martin Truex Jr in second; Josh Berry, Kyle Larson, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.  There are only eleven cars on the lead lap.

Forty to go, Denny Hamlin has a second and a half lead on teammate Martin Truex Jr; Josh Berry, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.  Ty Gibbs is back in 14th place one lap down,

Just 33 laps to go, leaders have encountered slower traffic.  Denny Hamlin’s lead is down to just a tenth of a second on Martin Truex Jr.

There have been 52 lead changes – a new record for short tracks in NASCAR.

Just 28 to go, Denny Hamlin has a quarter of a second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Brad Keselowski, Josh Berry, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

With 22 laps to go, Denny Hamlin has a narrow lead on Martin Truex Jr with lots of slower traffic in front of them.  There are only 10 cars on the lead lap.

Martin Truex Jr passes Denny Hamlin for the lead with 17 laps remaining in the race.

Fifteen to go, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr battle for the lead.  Hamlin bumps Bubba Wallace out of the way to take the lead.  Hamlin is part owner of the 23 car driven by Wallace.

Just seven cars on the lead lap with Denny Hamlin in the lead.  The leaders are mired in slower traffic.

Just nine laps to go, Denny Hamlin has a third of a second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Josh Berry has fallen through the field as his tires have worn out.

Four to go and only five cars on the lead lap with Denny Hamlin in the lead.

Two to go, Denny Hamlin increases his lead to half a second.

Denny Hamlin takes the white flag.

Denny Hamlin wins the race after 54 record setting lead changes.  Drivers were falling through the field with worn tires but Denny Hamlin had plenty of rubber for a burnout.  He ended it with a flat tire.

The unofficial results of the Food City 500:
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Brad Keselowski
Alex Bowman
Kyle Larson
John Hunter Nemechek
Chris Buescher
Chase Elliott
Ty Gibbs
Christopher Bell
Michael McDowell
Josh Berry
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Preece
Ross Chastain
Ryan Blaney
Justin Haley
Daniel Suarez
Kaz Grala
Erik Jones
Corey LaJoie
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Dillon
Kyle Busch
Todd Gilliland
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Hemric
Bubba Wallace
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
Harrison Burton
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Noah Gragson
William Byron
Zane Smith