BRISTOL, Tenn. — The excitement is palpable at Bristol Motor Speedway as Cup cars make a triumphant return to the concrete track. For the last three spring races, they’ve been tearing it up on dirt, but now, the asphalt beckons, much to the delight of the drivers.
Today’s race, set to start at 3:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on Fox, promises to be a spectacle. Here are three key points to keep an eye on:
1. **Choosing the Right Lane**
The decision-making process for drivers got a bit more complicated on Saturday. The application of resin on the lower groove of the corners, meant to enhance traction, threw a few curveballs during practice and qualifying sessions.
Ryan Blaney, who secured the pole position, found the conditions “pretty, pretty challenging.” Michael McDowell, starting seventh, was taken aback by the unexpected loss of grip in the resin-treated areas. “It caught us off guard, for sure,” he admitted. The initial laps at Bristol are always about pushing the limits, and this added an unexpected twist.
Martin Truex Jr., who will start 11th, commented on the track’s poor condition during practice, highlighting how slick and unpredictable it was. This made preparing for qualifying quite tricky. Despite securing a decent starting spot, Truex and his team felt they learned little from practice, a challenging situation given the limited practice time available.
William Byron expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the bottom groove for the race, based on its performance during Saturday’s sessions. The uncertainty post-qualifying has left teams and drivers guessing, with crew chiefs and engineers working overtime to devise the best strategy for Sunday’s race.
2. **A Tale of Two Drivers**
Ryan Blaney is in the spotlight, starting on the pole and aiming for his fourth consecutive top-five finish. His teammate at Team Penske, Joey Logano, is looking to reverse a challenging season that has seen him finish 28th or worse in three races. Blaney is currently leading the points, while Logano is in 30th place as they head into Sunday’s race.
Blaney praised his team for their dedication and hard work, which has been a significant factor in his successful start to the season. Logano, on the other hand, described this as “definitely the toughest start of a season I’ve ever had,” highlighting his struggle to achieve a top-10 finish in his last six starts at Bristol on concrete.
3. **Will We See a New Winner?**
The Cup races have seen a diverse group of winners recently, with six different drivers taking the checkered flag in the last six races. The question on everyone’s mind is whether this trend will continue.
Here’s a recap of the last six Cup race winners:
– 2024 Phoenix — Christopher Bell
– 2024 Las Vegas — Kyle Larson
– 2024 Atlanta — Daniel Suarez
– 2024 Daytona 500 — William Byron
– 2023 Phoenix — Ross Chastain
– 2023 Martinsville — Ryan Blaney
As the engines roar to life at Bristol Motor Speedway, all eyes will be on the track to see if a new champion will emerge or if a previous winner will reclaim glory.