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The NASCAR Sprint Cup makes its next stop at Bristol Motor Speedway's half-mile coliseum for the Food City 500. We looked at past performances and season trends and spoke to team contacts to give our best estimate as to how the field should finish Sunday.
When
Sunday, March 21
1:13 p.m. ET
Weather
Isolated thunderstorms with a high around 57; wind out of the NE at 7 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.
The track
Bristol Motor Speedway is a half-mile oval with high-banking the entire way around. The corners are banked 36 degrees with 16 degree banking on the straight-aways. This is a track where very few drivers have been able to dominate. Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon all have had decent success at the track, but that status can change with one nudge to the left-rear bumper.
Key to race: Don’t bring your best car
The Bullring in Bristol has been described a flying an airplane in a gymnasium. There will be no cars that escape Sunday's race without at least a little sheet metal damage. The Food City 500 is one of the most entertaining on the circuit for fans and frustrating for drivers. Expect tempers to flare as the cars bump and bang. The driver that wins the race will be the one with the best set of pit stops and the most luck.
Qualifying procedures
Forty-five cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by qualifying on Friday, March 19 at 3:40 p.m. ET. Cars who finished in the top 35 in owner's points at the end of the 2009 season are guaranteed a spot in the race.
Fantasy cheat sheet
Top 5
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Rowdy has had one of the top cars the past three races at Bristol. There is a good chance he can take the checkers again on Sunday.
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson had one of the fastest cars in both Bristol races last year. He will be in the front again.
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards won two of the last three night races at Bristol and has placed in the top 16 the past eight races at the track. He is a great pick.
No. 14 Tony Stewart: Stewart has led 769 laps in the past eight races at Bristol. He should be strong again this weekend.
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6 to 10
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has five wins and has led nearly 2,400 laps at Bristol during his career. He should be in the top 10 once again.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has 12 top-10 finishes in 20 career starts and has led 539 laps during the last nine races at the track. He is a great option on Sunday.
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has been very successful at Bristol in his career. In his last 17 starts at the track he has finished 16th or better in 15 of them. Look for him to earn another a top-10 finish.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle has eight top-10 finishes in 14 career starts at Bristol. He is a very good fantasy option.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton won the 2008 spring race at Bristol and was fast at the track last spring. He will be fighting for another top-10 finish this weekend.
11 to 20
No. 5 Mark Martin: Martin has averaged a 13th-place finish during his 41 career starts at Bristol. He will finish better than his average this weekend.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch has won five races at Bristol during his career, but in his last five races at the track he averaged just a 16th-place finish. He is still a strong option but we wouldn't anchor our team with him.
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick has 11 top-10 finishes in 18 career races at Bristol. RCR has seemed to figure out what made them so slow last year, and Harvick is again a driver to consider.
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 | Video |
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Drivers ready for Bristol bumping March 17, 2010: Jimmie Johnson thinks he has a good shot at earning his first Bristol victory, and Kyle Busch and other drivers are preparing for the tight track room. |
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 | Earning a trip to victory lane Take a look at every NASCAR driver who has claimed a checkered flag this racing season. NBCSports.com |
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 | Revved up for racing Take a look at how some NASCAR fans express their dedication to the drivers and to the sport. NBCSports.com |
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Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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