BRISTOL – March 17, 2024 – Anthony Holbrook
– The NASCAR Cup Series invaded Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, located in Bristol, Tennessee. The distinctive short track billed as the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile“ was constructed in 1960 and hosted its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol Motor Speedway’s noted features include exclusively steep banking, combined with an all-concrete surface, two pit roads, and Coliseum-like seating.
Eligible gladiators battle in the Annual Bass Pro Shops Night Race to advance in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in route to a famed victory sword. Ryan Blaney turned a qualifying lap time of 15.356 seconds in and started from the pole position.
Food City 500 – Stage 1 Recap
Tye Gibbs reeled in race leader Rylan Blaney with 4 laps left to decide the opening Stage. Gibbs methodically preserved his tires as contenders Denny Hamlin and Kyle Bush’s tires were shredded and closed the Stage under Caution. Nineteen race leaders along with four caution interruptions closed out the Stage. 2023 Rookie of the Year Tye Gibbs gets his first Stage win in his NASCAR CUP career.
Food City 500 – Stage 1 Results:
1. Ty Gibbs
2. Kyle Larson
3. Chris Buescher
4. Brad Keselowski
5. John Hunter Nemechek
6. Martin Truex Jr
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Ryan Preece
9. Josh Berry
10. Christopher Bell
Food City 500 – Stage 2 Recap:
Tye Gibbs utilized his momentum in Stage 2 to retain the lead with lead challenges from Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. on the concrete shredding surface. Tye Gibbs forfeited his top position due to a crafty pit strategy of a two-tire change from Chris Buscher’s pit crew under Caution Lap 175. Adding salt to the wound, Tye Gibb’s pit crews’ tire error, resulted in an unwelcome pit penalty. Joey Logano’s questionable season still has hope, as Logano appeared to be gaining in Chris Bell’s rear view mirror. Joey Logano and Christopher Bell exchanged the lead while Tye Gibbs muscled back into the picture after the pit penalty. Tye Gibbs was able to overtake Joey Logano with 2 trips around Thunder Valley left to complete Stage 2.
Gibbs continued to add playoff points to his resume sweeping the first two Stages at Bristol Motor Speedway!
Food City 500 – Stage 2 Results:
1. Ty Gibbs
2. Brad Keselowski
3. Joey Logano
4. John Hunter Nemechek
5. Christopher Bell
6. Martin Truex Jr
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Kyle Larson
9. Bubba Wallace
10. Ryan Preece
Food City 500 – Final Stage Recap:
Tire management looked to be a deciding factor as many right-side tires had been ravaged and many teams had been stricken. Josh Berry’s spin out on lap 310 sent the front runners to the pit awarding Hamlin the post position after attending service. Tye Gibbs contested Denny Hamlin’s lead while attempting to conserve the limited Goodyears. The season veteran exchanged the lead and in due course overtook his Gibbs’ teammate applying past short track racing knowledge. Sadly, the track tire shredder ended any positive outcome for many drivers as race dominator Tye Gibbs’ Camry hobbled for tire service on Lap 55. Within 5 laps race contender Denny Hamlin recycled back to lead the pack. Martin Truex Jr stalked Denny Hamlin with 18 laps left to finish in an attempt to regain the lead. Martin Truex Jr. lead was short lived surrendering the edge back to Denny Hamlin with 16 to go. Denny Hamlin wins Back-to-Back swords at the Last Great Colosseum!
54 lead changes set an all-time record at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Food City 500 – Results
Pos | Driver
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Martin Truex Jr
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Alex Bowman
5. Kyle Larson
6. John Hunter Nemechek
7. Chris Buescher
8. Chase Elliott
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Christopher Bell
11. Michael McDowell
12. Josh Berry
13. Chase Briscoe
14. Ryan Preece
15. Ross Chastain
16. Ryan Blaney
17. Justin Haley
18. Daniel Suarez
19. Kaz Grala
20. Erik Jones
21. Corey LaJoie
22. Joey Logano
23. AJ Allemedninger
24. Austin Dillon
25. Kyle Busch
26. Todd Gilliland
27. Carson Hocevar
28. Daniel Hemric
29. Bubba Wallace
30. Tyler Reddick
31. Austin Cindric
32. Harrison Burton
33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
34. Noah Gragson
35. William Byron
36. Zane Smith
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Points Standing
(After Food City 500 3/17/2024)
Pos | Driver | Points | Wins
1. Kyle Larson | 185 | 1 Win
2. Martin Truex Jr | 185
3. Ty Gibbs | 178
4. Ryan Blaney | 177
5. Denny Hamlin | 173 | 1 Win
6. Chase Elliott | 152
7. Ross Chastain | 151
8. Christopher Bell | 138 | 1 Win
9. Tyler Reddick | 137
10. William Byron | 136 | 1 Win
11. Daniel Suarez | 133 | 1 Win
12. Alex Bowman | 132
13. Brad Keselowski | 125
14. Chris Buescher | 124
15. John Hunter Nemechek | 124
16. Kyle Busch | 122
17. Michael McDowell | 110
18. Bubba Wallace | 107
19. Chase Briscoe | 107
20. Erik Jones | 101
21. Austin Cindric | 93
22. Corey LaJoie | 86
23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 84
24. Carson Hocevar | 80
25. Daniel Hemric | 76
26. Joey Logano | 74
27. Josh Berry | 74
28. Justin Haley | 72
29. Todd Gilliland | 63
30. Austin Dillon | 59
31. Harrison Burton | 58
32. Noah Gragson | 56
33. Kaz Grala | 55
34. Ryan Preece | 54
35. Zane Smith | 41
36. David Ragan | 17
NASCAR Cup Series locates to the Circuit of The Americas for the running of the Echo Park Automotive Grand Prix
March 24th, 2024
3:30 p.m. E.T. / FOX / Sirius XM NASCAR 90
