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Kyle Busch has car to beat in Food City 500

Past success at Bristol bodes well for driver at high-banked track

Image: Kyle BuschGetty Images
In five of the last six races at Bristol, Kyle Busch has finished ninth or better.

11 to 20
No. 6
David Ragan: Ragan has been driving well lately and should have the No. 6 car taking the checkers right after 10th place.
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has led just 15 laps in the past eight races at Bristol.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne had the top car in the 2007 night race at Bristol, but he struggled at the track in 2008. He should be fast again this weekend, but his lack of success last season makes him a bit of a risky pick.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton won last year's spring race but then crashed and finished 42nd in the night race. His win in March was a bit of a fluke.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch has won five races at Bristol during his career, but in his last four races at the track he averaged a 20th-place finish. He is still a strong option on Sunday, but we wouldn't anchor our team with him.
No. 5 Mark Martin: Martin's adjustment to the No. 5 car has gone much slower than most expected. He isn't a strong fantasy option until he gets more chemistry with his new team.
No. 96 Bobby Labonte: Labonte's average finish at Bristol during his career is 19th. We think that is about where he will finish on Sunday.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya has cracked the top 20 in his past three Bristol starts. We like his chances to do it again on Sunday.
No. 55 Michael Waltrip: Waltrip is making his 45th career start at Bristol and should finish right around his career average finish of 19.
No. 39 Ryan Newman: Newman has four finishes in the top 10 and four finishes in the 30s during his last eight races at Bristol. His inconsistency makes him a risky play.

21 to 30
No. 26
Jamie McMurray: McMurray has finished outside the top 20 in six of the last eight races at Bristol.
No. 07 Casey Mears: Mears has just one top-10 finish in 12 career starts at Bristol.
No. 00 David Reutimann: Reutimann finished 20th and 25th at Bristol in 2008. He should take the checkers around there again this weekend.
No. 83 Brian Vickers: Bristol is a track that Vickers wishes NASCAR would skip.
No. 1 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex Jr has averaged a 25th-place finish at Bristol during his career. The success he had at the track while in the Nationwide Series has yet to carry over. We like other drivers much more this weekend.
No. 44 A.J. Allmendinger: Allmendinger has been terrible at Bristol in his career. His early success this season suggests that should change, but there are far less risky picks this week.
No. 20 Joey Logano: Rookies, like Logano, are rarely strong options at Bristol.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has struggled at Bristol lately.
No. 12 David Stremme: Stremme notched back-to-back top-15 finishes at Bristol in 2007. He might surprise on Sunday.
No. 43 Reed Sorenson: Sorenson never has had much success at Bristol during his career.

31 to 35
No. 47
Marcos Ambrose: Like Joey Logano, Ambrose is making his first career Cup start at Bristol. This isn't a track to gamble on a yellow-striper.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish Jr. will struggle to crack the top 30 at Bristol.
No. 8 Aric Almirola: Almirola was excellent at Bristol in 2008. Was it a fluke or does the No. 8 driver have the tough track tamed? We will find out on Sunday.
No. 28 Travis Kvapil: Rumor has it that this weekend's race might be Kvapil's last for Yates Racing due to lack of sponsorship options. With nothing to lose, look for Kvapil to take some chances on Sunday.
No. 7 Robby Gordon: Gordon has finished in the top 30 in three of the last five Bristol races. We expect he will be fast enough to accomplish that again this weekend.

Field Fillers
No. 82 Scott Speed
No. 34 John Andretti
No. 98 Paul Menard
No. 36 Scott Riggs
No. 71 David Gilliland
No. 66 Dave Blaney
No. 64 Todd Bodine
No. 87 Joe Nemechek
No. 41 Jeremy Mayfield
No. 09 Sterling Marlin

Brownie's Picks

Top Four
1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Jeff Gordon

Sleepers
1. Michael Waltrip
2. Bobby Labonte

Busts
1. Jamie McMurray
2. Brian Vickers

© 2012 NBC Sports.com  Reprints


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