2006 Sharpie 500 - NASCAR's Best Racing:
Only three races remain until the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup begins. This weekend the NASCAR stars take on Bristol Motor Speedway. This tight, half-mile oval always features exciting racing and raging tempers as the close-quarters racing brings out the worst in many drivers.
Tickets:
Speedway ticket office (423) 764-1161
Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)
The Track:
Measuring in at .533 miles and featuring 36 degrees of banking in the corners. Bristol Motor Speedway is very tight and very fast. Racing here was once compared to racing jetfighters in a gymnasium.
The high speeds and close quarters makes for a lot of pushing and shoving on the track, and sometimes in the pits. Adrenaline (and tempers) run high as often the only way to pass is to shove the guy in front of you out of the way.
Race Distance:
500 laps = 266.5 miles
The Big Picture:
Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth have both clinched their spots in The Chase but the battle behind them has heated up. Just fifty points separate Jeff Gordon in fifth from Dale Earnhardt Jr. in tenth while Kasey Kahne in eleventh is just 49 points out of a spot in The Chase.
- Jimmie Johnson -0
- Matt Kenseth -58
- Kevin Harvick -317
- Mark Martin -395
- Tony Stewart -406
- Jeff Gordon -434
- Kyle Busch -443
- Denny Hamlin -445
- Jeff Burton -449
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -484
Storylines:
Bristol Motor Speedway, much like Daytona and Talladega is a place where your fate is not entirely in your own hands. There is so much traffic and the racing is so tight that one small mistake can end your day in a flash.
This is especially important for the 7 drivers that are less than 100 points apart battling for six spots in The Chase. If any of those drivers gets caught in someone else's mess they could find themselves on the outside looking in when The Chase begins.
Media Coverage:
TV: TNT Saturday August 26th 7:00PM Eastern.
Radio: PRN and XM Satellite
Actual Race: 7:40PM Eastern
Posted Awards:
$6,055,119
Last Year:
This was not a typical NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Bristol. Matt Kenseth started on the pole, lead 415 of the 500 laps and was never seriously challenged. A late race restart tried to add some drama as Jeff Burton restarted hot on his bumper but Kenseth got away cleanly and this one was never in doubt.
Predictions:
The intensity will be turned up this weekend as the famous night race in Bristol brings out the worst in the drivers. Making a prediction this weekend is difficult because any driver can see his hopes dashed in a instant as the close racing takes its toll.
Earlier this year Kurt Busch shoved Matt Kenseth out of the way with just five laps to go to take the Bristol win. Kurt Busch is exactly the kind of driver that excels at Bristol. I think he could easily complete the sweep this weekend with another convincing win.
For my backup pick I'm tempted to go with Matt Kenseth who is sure to have another great run this weekend. But instead I'm going with a slightly less obvious pick.
Matt's teammate Greg Biffle is still clinging to an outside hope of making The Chase. Biffle was the early leader here in the spring until a flat tire ended his shot at the win. I think Biffle will have a strong run this weekend.
