NASCAR (DAYTONA) - Passes Double at "New" Bristol

NASCAR’s Loop Data shows green flag passing during Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway more than doubled that of the spring race at Bristol – from 991 passes in the spring to 2,147 passes Saturday night. The consensus opinion held by the drivers at the conclusion of the race rang loud and clear: the new surface at Bristol Motor Speedway met – and exceeded – expectations, as the addition of a second and third racing groove greatly increased the number of passes – and thusly, the competition.

Take a look at the total passing numbers from the spring and this past weekend:

2007 Green Flag Passes at Bristol

Spring Location Summer

184 Frontstretch 529

128 Backstretch 487

313 Turns 1 and 2 571

366 Turns 3 and 4 560

991 Total 2,147

The 2,147 green flag passes Saturday is a 108% increase over the spring race at Bristol.

The individual numbers also grew. Below is a look at the top five in Green Flag Passes at the spring race and the top five this past Saturday night.

Bristol Green Flag Passes – Spring

1. Kevin Harvick, 52

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 47

3. Jeff Burton, 46

4. Jeff Gordon, 37

5. David Stremme, 37

Bristol Green Flag Passes – Summer

1. J.J. Yeley, 107

2. Jamie McMurray, 105

3. Reed Sorenson, 87

4. Robby Gordon, 80

5. Martin Truex Jr., 80

Kevin Harvick’s top mark of 52 Green Flag Passes in the spring would have tied him for 18th with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in this past weekend’s race. Tony Stewart, who finished fourth Saturday night and clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, gave the new track at Bristol high marks:

"Guys were running over each other to pass each other," said Stewart. "It’s the most fun I've had at Bristol in my career. I can't give it a better grade than an A-plus."

Besides the clear chasm in the actual numbers, it’s also interesting to note the names in the top five in Green Flag Passes from this weekend’s race. The evolution of the Car of Tomorrow continues, as fresh faces have launched themselves into the top of the Green Flag Passes category.

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Manufacturers also continue to adapt to the new car. Coming into Saturday’s race, eight of the nine COT races were won by a Chevrolet driver (Juan Pablo Montoya in a Dodge won the other at Infineon Raceway). Carl Edwards broke through with Ford’s first COT win Saturday night, as the other manufacturers continue to improve their performance in the new car.

Below are the top five drivers in Driver Rating from the spring Bristol race, along with the make of car each drove:

Bristol Driver Rating – Spring

1. Kyle Busch, 121.0 – Chevy

2. Denny Hamlin, 118.5 – Chevy

3. Tony Stewart, 114.4 – Chevy

4. Greg Biffle, 111.6 – Ford

5. Kevin Harvick, 104.2 – Chevy

Notice that four of the top-five rated drivers ran a Chevrolet. Now take a look at the top-five in Driver Rating from Saturday night’s Bristol race.

Bristol Driver Rating – Summer

1. Kasey Kahne, 141.1 – Dodge

2. Carl Edwards, 134.2 – Ford

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 114.0 – Chevy

4. Ryan Newman, 112.5 – Dodge

5. Kurt Busch, 107.9 – Dodge

Only one of the top-five rated drivers ran a Chevy on Saturday night.