2006 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway

After four races at some of NASCAR's fastest race tracks this week the NEXTEL Cup stars get to do some short track racing. Bristol Motor Speedway is a fast half-mile oval. Racing at Bristol features bumping, banging, fast action and short tempers. This is NASCAR short-track racing at its best!

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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.

500 laps = 266.5 miles

Jimmie Johnson's incredible start to 2006 has stretched out the top ten, already putting tenth place Clint Bowyer 219 points behind.

Bristol can reach out and bite you so everybody will have to be "cautiously aggressive" to get out of here with a good finish.

1. Jimmie Johnson -0
2. Kasey Kahne -50
3. Matt Kenseth -78
4. Mark Martin -90
5. Casey Mears -136
6. Jeff Gordon -151
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -156
8. Kyle Busch -160
9. Dale Jarrett -200
10. Clint Bowyer -219

What a difference a year makes. Bristol is a great time to take a look at Kevin Harvick and talk about his future.

Harvick won this race in 2005 but that was his only victory of the year. In fact, Kevin Harvick only managed three top five finishes in all of 2005.

So far in 2006 he has yet to crack the top ten and the rumors are starting to fly about his future with Richard Childress. Is the end coming soon for Kevin Harvick in the #29?

TV: Fox Sunday March 26th 1:30PM Eastern.

Radio: PRN and XM Satellite

Actual Race: 2:10PM Eastern

$5,426,071

In 2005 the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway suffered a rash of cautions. There was beating and banging galore including one massive wreck on the backstretch that involved 14 cars.

Lots of fast cars had tire problems that knocked them from contention including Rusty Wallace and Matt Kenseth.

Kevin Harvick outlasted them all and coasted home for a comfortable 4.6 second victory over Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart.

Short track racing at Bristol is nearly as hard to predict as a restrictor plate race. You can have a fast car and be minding your own business when lightning strikes and suddenly you're done for the day.

Last year Rusty Wallace had the car to beat until a flat tire sent him to pits for an unscheduled stop and he lost a lap. Since four-time Bristol winner Kurt Busch now has Rusty's equipment I will go with Busch as the man to beat this weekend. Kurt could put Rusty's "Blue Deuce" back in Victory Lane at Bristol.

For my backup this week I am going with another car that ran well here last year. Matt Kenseth won the pole and the race in Bristol last August. Kenseth was also a factor in the spring race until a flat tire dropped him back in the pack right at the end. Plus Matt has been fast so far in 2006, already posting one win. Kenseth is a solid backup pick.