2010 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway

By Steve McCormick, About.com Guide

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Bristol Motor Speedway

Logo Courtesy of NASCAR

2010 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway:

Only three races remain until the Chase for the Cup begins. This weekend features one of the biggest events on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule as the 2010 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway takes center stage. 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

The Track:

Measuring in at .533 miles and featuring variable banking in the corners. Bristol Motor Speedway is very tight and very fast. Racing here was once compared to racing jetfighters in a gymnasium.

In 2007 the track was torn up and reconfigured. They made the track three feet wider, smoothed the transitions into the turns and added variable banking.

Race Distance:

500 laps = 266.5 miles

The Big Picture:

Last week Kevin Harvick picked up the win in Michigan and officially clinched his place in the 2010 Chase for the Cup.

At the other end of the points Clint Bowyer moved into the Chase with a 13th place effort while Mark Martin struggled all day.

The top twelve are now:

Kevin Harvick
Jeff Gordon -293
Denny Hamlin -353
Tony Stewart -380
Jimmie Johnson -386
Carl Edwards -414
Jeff Burton -414
Kyle Busch -425
Matt Kenseth -439
Kurt Busch -465
Greg Biffle -487
Clint Bowyer -645

Storylines:

Only three races remain until the the 2010 Chase begins and all eyes are on the battle for twelfth.

Last week Mark Martin struggled in Michigan and fell from the top twelve. Martin was replaced by Clint Bowyer who now finds himself 35 points ahead of Martin in the battle for the final Chase spot.

Greg Biffle in eleventh is more than 100 points ahead of Bowyer and Ryan Newman in thirteenth is over 100 points behind so the battle for the final Chase spot is focused on Bowyer and Martin as the series rolls into Bristol this weekend.

Media Coverage:

TV: ABC Saturday August 21st 7:00PM Eastern.

Radio: PRN and SIRIUS Satellite

Actual Race: 7:05PM Eastern

Recent Events:

2009 Winner: Kyle Busch

2009 Polesitter: Mark Martin

Last Year:

The 2009 Sharpie 500 was a key race in the 2009 Race to the Chase. Mark Martin came to Bristol needing a good race because he was on the bubble. Kyle Busch needed a good race to try to move up from fifteenth into legitimate contention. They both got what they needed with a 1-2 finish.

Predictions:

Kyle Busch swept both races here in 2009 but hasn't been running well lately and wasn't a factor when the series visited Bristol in March.

Jimmie Johnson won here in March and has nothing to lose at this point of his season. Jimmie will be racing for the win since he is all-but assured of a Chase spot. The only thing that helps him in the Chase is the checkered flag. Johnson makes a good pick this weekend.

Kurt Busch lead 278 laps here in March but ended up settling for a third place finish. Kurt is another driver who is safely in the 2010 Chase so only a win will help him at this point. This "win or go home" mentality with little fear of the consequences will give these drivers an edge on the tight Bristol half-mile.