The Cup Series caps off a triple header weekend with the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.  There is almost a full field for the race on Sunday with 39 drivers signed up to drive.

Xfinity Series regular Jesse Love joins the Cup Series for his debut in the series driving the number 33 for Richard Childress Racing.

But first is practice and qualifying on a cool Saturday afternoon.  The drivers have been divided into two groups for a 25 minute practice session before making a single round of qualifying.

NASCAR has applied the traction compound to the bottom four feet of the track.  With the progressive banking, the top groove would always be the fastest part of the track without the addition of the “sticky stuff” on the bottom.

Former Indy driver Max Pappis has a company that designs and builds steering wheels; he says that he has 97 different models to suit every driver.

Jesse Love is making his Cup Series debut at Bristol.  Corey LaJoie returns to the Cup Series this weekend.

Ricky Stenhouse tops the leaderboard in Group 1 practice with a sub 15 second lap but Kyle Larson tops the board in multiple lap times.

Many of the drivers are reporting numerous handling issues and tire wear problems after just one practice session.

Brad Keselowski compared auto racing to a science experiment; noting that a small variable can change everything.

The teams will have nine sets of sticker tires and their qualifying set for the race; which means they will need to run 50 laps on a single set of tires, but the tires are wearing out at 40 laps.  Drivers and crews will need to employ some major tire conservation for the race.

In second place, Ryan Blaney topped the leaderboard in Group 2 practice.  There is less than half a second in lap times between the leader and 20th place.

Bristol is the only track remaining in the NASCAR circuit with two pit roads.  Under green flag conditions the drivers can enter the pits on their pit lane but under yellow flag conditions, all drivers must enter pit road on turn two and run the entire circuit.

Joe Gibbs Racing has led nearly half of the laps run at Bristol in the Next Gen car.

The qualifying order is determined by the NASCAR metric – 70% last race finish and 30% point standings.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Josh Bilicki with his first Cup Series race of the season and posted a time of 16.347 seconds.

Kyle Larson is the first driver to break the 15 second mark with a time of 14.930 seconds.

Drivers at the top of the leaderboard are running the fastest times recorded at Bristol in the Next Gen cars.

Kyle Busch spun out on his second qualifying lap but kept it off the wall.

Joey Logano hit the wall but recovered the car to make a qualifying run.

With a time of 14.911 seconds, Alex Bowman put his number 48 car on the pole with Ricky Stenhouse Jr starting alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the Food City 500:
Alex Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
Ty Gibbs
Christopher Bell
AJ Allmendinger
Carson Hocevar
Justin Haley
Josh Berry
Ty Dillon
Michael McDowell
Chase Briscoe
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Austin Dillon
Zane Smith
Jesse Love
Chase Elliott
Austin Cindric
Bubba Wallace
Daniel Suarez
Chris Buescher
Riley Herbst
William Byron
Tyler Reddick
Erik Jones
Ryan Preece
Todd Gilliland
Noah Gragson
John Hunter Nemechek
Cole Custer
Cody Ware
Ross Chastain
Shane van Gisbergen
Corey LaJoie
Joey Logano
Josh Bilicki

Track officials have sprayed another layer of the traction compound – “sticky stuff” – on the bottom four feet of the track this morning in hopes of increasing the grip on the lower portion of the track.

The track temperatures are in the 90’s on a warm day and should take rubber and give the drivers some grip.

Joey Logano and John Hunter Nemechek will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars.

Stages one and two are 125 laps each with stage three lasting 250 laps for a total of 500 laps around the half mile track.   

The crews have a total of eleven sets of tires – the ones they start on and 10 in the pits.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon Alex Bowman cranks up Thunder Valley when he jumps out in front for the lead with Ricky Stenhouse Jr in second; Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, and Justin Haley are hung out on the top line.

Lap six, Alex Bowman holds on to the lead with Ricky Stenhouse Jr a quarter of a second behind; Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.  Ty Gibbs has dropped to eleventh.

Lap 12,Alex Bowman continues to lead with Ricky Stenhouse in second; Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.  Joey Logano has moved up five spots since the start of the race.

Lap 19, the drivers are all single file.

Ty Gibbs finally found a spot, back in 20th.

Making his Cup Series debut, Jesse Love has been on Kyle Busch’s bumper.

Lap 26, the drivers are in tire conservation mode after no driver made it past 40 laps in practice on Saturday before their tires began to cord.

Lap 30, Kyle Larson passes Denny Hamlin for third.

Lap 35, Alex Bowman holds on to the lead with Justin Haley in second; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.

Lap 40, Kyle Larton passes Alex Bowman for the lead after passing on the outside lane.

The track is beginning to take rubber which will aid in tire wear for the drivers.

Lap 44, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Justin Haley; Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.

Lap 48, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a near two second lead on Justin Haley.

Lap 54, Joey Logano has advanced 10 spots since the race start.  Ty Gibbs is back in the top 10.

Lap 63, halfway through stage one, and the track has been green with no apparent tire wear issues.

Lap 69, leader Kyle Larson has begun lapping slower cars with 36 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 72, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to just over a second on Justin Haley amid traffic; Justin Haley, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five with 33 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 77, Denny Hamlin passes Justing Haley for second.

Drivers are reporting tight conditions in their cars.

Lap 81, Kyle Larson has lapped seven cars so far and is a second and a half in front of Denny Hamlin.

Lap 86, the top five are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Justin Haley, Alex Bowman, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Lap 93, Joey Logano is up to 25th after starting the race in 38th place.

There are 31 cars on the lead lap.

Continuing his dominance from yesterday, Kyle Larson has a two second lead on Denny Hamlin with 28 cars on the lead lap.

Kyle Busch has scraped the wall but the track stays green.

Lap 100, Kyle Larson has a lead of over two seconds on Denny Hamlin; Justin Haley, Alex Bowman, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr round out the top five.

La 105, Kyle Larson has a two and a half second lead on Denny Hamlin and has Joey Logano in his sights as the next car to go a lap down.

Lap 111, Kyle Larson holds a lead of over two seconds on Denny Hamlin with 25 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 118, amid traffic, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to under two seconds as he battles with Ryan Preece – the last car on the lead lap.

Lap 121, still in traffic, Kyle Larson’s lead is now under one second over Denny Hamlin.

Kyle Larson finally gets around Ryan Preece.

Kyle Larson wins stage one for his sixth stage win.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Justin Haley
Alex Bowman
Carson Hocevar
Christopher Bell
Ryan Blaney
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ty Gibbs
AJ Allmendinger

Ryan Preece is the “lucky dog”.

For the first time in Bristol history since stage racing began, there were no caution flags in a stage.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road.  Shane van Gisbergen was caught speeding on pit road.  Austin Cindric is charged with pitting outside of the box.  Both drivers will restart the race from the back of the field.  Kyle Busch will also start the race from the back of the field for speeding.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 143 with Denny Hamlin alongside.  Larson jumps out in front for the lead with Justin Haley taking second.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar, Justin Haley, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin.

Lap 147, Kye Larson leads the race with Justin Haley in second; Denny Hamlin, Carson Hocevar, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Brad Keselowski makes contact with Bubba Wallace but the track stays green.

Lap 152, Kyle Larson has just a quarter of a second lead on Justin Haley; Denny Hamlin, Carson Hocevar, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.  Drivers know the tires will last the stage and have begun beating and banging each other.

Lap 159, Kyle Larson continues to lead with a near half second lead on Justin Haley; Denny Hamlin, Carson Hocevar, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Lap 172, leader Kyle Larson has encountered slower traffic and is beginning to lap cars again.

Denny Hamlin battles with Justin Haley for second.

Lap 178, the first caution flag comes out for an on track incident for Shane van Gisbergen who spins out and ends up against the wall after contact with Cody Ware.

Ryan Preece is the “lucky dog”.

The top eight stay out on the track with some drivers coming down pit road.

Daniel Suarez was charged with an equipment violation. 

John Hunter Nemechek lost a lug nut on pit road and the wheel came off of the car.  The rolling tire hit Daniel Suarez’s car barely missing a crew member.

Michael McDowell was caught speeding on pit road.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with Denny Hamlin alongside on lap 189.  Larson takes the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; Alex Bowman, Christopher Bell, and Justin Haley round out the top five.

Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

Lap 195, Carson Hocevar passes Justin Haley for fifth.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Carson Hocevar.

Lap 202, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Alex Bowman; Denny Hamlin, Chrisotpher Bell, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.

Christopher Bell reports some brake shake.

Lap 208, Kyle Larson’s lead is now nearly two seconds and is approaching slower traffic.

Josh Bilicki takes his car to the garage with a mechanical issue.

Daniel Suarez’s equipment interference was an uncontrolled tire that rolled into a fueler; the crew was focused on the tire from John Hunter Nemechek’s car.

Lap 227, Kyle Larson has a lead of over two seconds on teammate Alex Bowman; Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.

Lap 232, Kyle Larson continues to dominate the race and is nearly two and a half seconds on Alex Bowman.

Lap 236, Christopher Bell and Carson Hocevar have passed Denny Hamlin.

Ten laps remain in stage two, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly two and a half seconds on Alex Bowman; Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 245, Kyle Larson has encountered slower traffic.

Kyle Larson wins stage two for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kyle Larson
Alex Bowman
Christopher Bell
Carson Hocevar
Denny Hamlin
Justin Haley
Ty Gibbs
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
Tyler Reddick

Ryan Preece is the “lucky dog”.

Last spring, a record 54 lead changes were made at Bristol; today, there have been only two – pole sitter Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road followed by Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 266 with Alex Bowman alongside. Eleven drivers took the wave around.  Larson jumps out in front for the lead with Denny Hamlin taking second.

Josh Bilicki is out of the r ace with an electrical issue.

Lap 269, the top five are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Ty Gibbs, and Carson Hocevar.

Lap 275, Kyle Larson has just a quarter of a second lead on Denny Hamlin; Alex Bowman, Ty Gibbs, and Carson Hocevar round out the top five.

As the sun moves across the horizon, parts of the track are now in shade.

Shane van Gisbergen has taken his car to the garage.

Lap 280, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin.

Lap 284, Kyle Larson continues to extend his lead and is now over a second out in front of Denny Hamlin; Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Ryan Blaney rounding out the top five.

Alex Bowman reports that his car is “blowing up”.  A cylinder down, he still in the race but falling through the field.

Lap 297, Kyle Larson has encountered slower traffic and has begun lapping cars.

Drivers who took the wave around are beginning to make a pit stop.  All of the drivers will have to make a pit stop in this stage.

Alex Bowman’s car is beginning to smoke.

Lap 305, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Kyle Larson is now in the top 10 in laps led at Bristol.

Lap 311, Kyle Larson has a near two second lead on Denny Hamlin.

Lap 232, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second and a half on Denny Hamlin.  Ty Gibbs is in third place but is getting some heavy challenge from Carson Hocevar and Ryan Blaney.

Lap 329, mired in traffic, William Byron has joined the battle with Carson Hocevar and Ryan Blaney to pass Ty Gibbs.

There are 23 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 336 Kyle Larson has extended his lead on Denny Hamlin to four seconds; Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 345, Kyle Larson has a four second lead on Denny Hamlin with Ty Gibbs coming for Hamlin; Carson Hocevar and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Alex Bowman takes his car to the garage with a blown engine.

Drivers begin making green flag pit stops.

Leaders are running sub 16 second laps.

Lap 361, Kyle Larson has a three and a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five with just 19 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 367, Denny Hamlin has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to just two seconds.

Lap 379, Kyle Larson continues to lead the race by just one second over Denny Hamlin; Carson Hocevar, Ryan Blaney, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five with 17 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 388, Kyle Larson has just a one second lead on Denny Hamlin; Carson Hocevar, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 391, leader Kyle Larson comes down pit road for service and gives the lead over the Carson Hocevar for just the third leader of the race.

La 393, Ryan Blaney is the new leader.

Lap 397, as pit stops continue, there are only four cars on the lead lap.

Kyle Larson led 350 laps when he came down pit road for a green flag pit stop.

Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Preece are the only drivers yet to make a pit stop.

Lap 408, Erik Jones gets into the wall but the track says green.

Lap 415, leader Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick are the only drivers on the lead lap.

Now two laps down, Carson Hocevar had a 22 second pit stop after Lap 424, Ryan Blaney is the only driver on the lead lap.

Just 68 laps remaining in the race, Ryan Blaney is the only driver on the lead lap.  Now a lap down, Tyler Reddick makes his pit stop; making Blaney and Bubba Wallace the only drivers yet to make a pit stop.

Corey LaJoie was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.

Lap 440, Ryan Blaney finally makes his pit stop.  Kyle Larson retakes the lead.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron.  Ryan Blaney returns to the race in ninth place.  There are only 10 cars on the lead lap.

Just 50 laps remaining in the race; Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin with the leaders mired in a traffic jam.

Lap 457, Kyle Larson has a near one second lead on Denny Hamlin; Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron round out the top five.  Ryan Blaney has moved up to sixth place after passing Ross Chastain.

Kyle Larson has passed Austin Dillon for just nine cars on the lead lap.  AJ Allmendinger is the last car on the lead lap.

Just 34 laps remain in what Mike Joy calls the “Kyle Larsonthon” with Kyle Larson in the lead dominating the race; Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron round out the top five.

Just 23 laps to go, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Denny Hamlin; Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron round out the top five.  There are just nine cars on the lead lap.

Erik Jones bounces off the wall…again…but he keeps going and the track stays green.

Just 12 laps to go, Kyle Larson has a second and a half lead on Denny Hamlin.

Five to go, Kyle Larson brushes the wall; he has a lead of over a second and a half on Denny Hamlin with four lapped cars separating the two.

Kyle Larson takes the white flag.

Leading over 400 laps, Kyle Larson wins the race in dominating fashion for the second time this weekend.  This is HMS win number 315.

The unofficial results of the Food City 500:
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Ty Gibbs
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Blaney
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Christopher Bell
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Dillon
Carson Hocevar
Josh Berry
Justin Haley
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
Brad Keselowski
Austin Cindric
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace
Ryan Preece
John Hunter Nemechek
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Noah Gragson
Joey Logano
Chris Buescher
Erik Jones
Zane Smith
Riley Herbst
Cole Custer
Michael McDowell
Jesse Love
Ty Dillon
Daniel Suarez
Corey LaJoie
Todd Gilliland
Cody Ware
Alex Bowman
Shane van Gisbergen
Josh Bilicki