NASCAR WCUP: Bristol Race Preview, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Posted By Terry Callahan
Contributing Editor, The Auto Channel
March 20, 2001Dale Jr. Quotes
“Bristol is so cool. We always ran well there in the Busch Series – we have a couple of second place finishes there. It’s a fun place – I really like the track.
“I think it is one of the most respected places among the drivers because it’s easy to get into trouble –you’re likely to get some scratches there in the race. I think everyone kind of expects that you’ll have to make an extra pit stop or two to pull out a bent fender or re-set the alignment on the car.
“It’s a hard track on a driver. It’s hard mentally and physically to run 500 laps. It can really beat you up.”
Dale Jr. at Bristol
Winston Cup Starts: 2
Best Start: 12th (Spring. 2000)
Best Finish: 16th (Fall 2000)
Notable: Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Budweiser team suffered from bad luck in both Bristol races last season. In the spring race, Dale Jr. was swept into a multi-car crash on lap two. He was able to continue until a second accident knocked the team out of the race on lap 401. In the fall night race, Dale Jr. ran in the top ten all evening until a late spin left him one lap behind the leaders. He was able to continue to a 16th place finish.
What: Food City 500 / 500 laps / 266.5 miles / .533-mile oval / Winston Cup Race #6 of 36
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol, TN
When: Sunday, March 25 / 1:00 pm Eastern
Watch: Fox-TV / Pre-race: 12:30 pm Eastern
Bud Pole Qualifying:
Bud Pole qualifying will be seen live on the Fox Sports Network Friday at 3:30 pm Eastern Time. The Winston Cup Happy Hour will also be seen live on the FX Network Saturday afternoon following the Busch Series race.
What to Watch
The Bristol track nearly always produces exciting racing and almost non-stop action (also known as multi-car crashes with a lot of extra-curricular bumping and bashing) from green flag to checkered flag. The drivers must endure 500 laps of severe g-forces generated from the high speeds on the short, high-banked concrete track. The track is completely surrounded by towering grandstands that reach high into the sky, creating the feeling of racing inside the world’s largest cereal bowl or tea cup.
Text provided by J. Gurss
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit
The Racing Photo Museum and the
Visions of Speed Art Gallery.