NASCAR WCUP: Earnhardt Jr. Race Preview, Bristol

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 21, 2001

“Bristol is one of those tracks that I have fond memories of while I was growing up. Now, there are grandstands all around the place – it’s like a college football stadium on steroids – but when I was a kid, I remember playing on the side of the hill above the banked turns. You could look right down into the cars, and I remember paying attention to dad’s arms and all of the other guys as they steered past me each lap. I think a lot of the fans that sit in the grandstands above the turns can still do that now.

“The night race has a great atmosphere. It’s full of energy and excitement. I wish all races were like this one or the Winston – at night, under the lights with the fans screaming like it’s a big rock concert. But, it’s always a really tough race. No matter what position you are in, you are always in traffic. Even if you’re leading, you are constantly lapping cars. It’s more of a case of surviving until the finish as it is racing sometimes. We’ve been fast there, but we always seem to get crashed or smashed up.”

Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Budweiser Team History at Bristol

Winston Cup Races: 3
Best Start: 9th(April, 2001)
Best Finish: 16th(August, 2000)
A poor finish in the spring race at Bristol (31st,after being caught in a multi-car crash) was the low point of the season for the Bud team, as they dropped to 26th in points. Since then, the team has been on a tear, moving forward 20 positions in the standings. Since that race, the team has 12 finishes in the top-12 in 17 races.

What: Sharpie 500 / 500 Laps, 266.5 miles / .533-mile oval Race# 24 of 36

Where: Bristol Motor Speedway / Bristol,TN

When: Saturday, August 25 / 8:00pm

Watch: TNT / Pre-race: 7:30 pm (All Times: Eastern)

Bud Pole Qualifying:

Bud Pole qualifying will be seen live on Friday at 3:00 pm on CNN/SI. CNN/SI will also air the final practice session Friday at 6:00 pm.

What to Watch

The night race at Bristol is one of the special events on the calendar that everyone looks forward to, except for the fabricators at the race shops that have to repair all of the body damage done during the 500-lap grind. Inevitably, the race produces action, controversy and enough junk sheet metal to fill your local landfill. Two-time Busch Series champ Randy LaJoie even hosts a party every year for the Bristol night race. When there is a yellow flag (and there are usually quite a few), everyone at the party must drink a shot of a strong alcoholic beverage or polish off a cold can of Budweiser. Kids, don’t try this at home. LaJoie is a trained professional.

Text provided by Jade Gurss

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.