Kyle Larson glides around the dirt surface of Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo: Chris Graythen | Getty Images)
After last year’s interesting experience with the dirt, Bristol Motor Speedway is giving the great experiment another shot with Sunday night’s Food City Dirt Race.
At 250 laps or about 125 miles, the shortest race of the season on an oval, it sounds like a quick Easter Sunday night race. However, racing on the dirt presents challenges to even the best drivers on this surface type.
Sure, the likes of Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell seem like easy, slam dunk favorites. That said, don’t count out pole winner Cole Custer, 2020 Cup champion, Chase Elliott, and defending race winner, Joey Logano.
Time will tell if the trend of a winner below the age of 30 continues or if we’ll see another different race winner to add to our already growing list of victors in 2022, an interesting subplot for this year’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field. It’s only Apr. 17, but there’s no telling if some drivers will need at least two wins to comfortably make the postseason.
This weekend, Ashley Hobbs, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Michelle Raynor, Nathan Solomon, Taylor Kitchen and yours truly ruminate over the kind of racing we’ll see tonight plus contenders to consider outside of Bell and Larson.
Podium Preview: Food City Dirt Race at Bristol
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Question 1
Defending winner, Joey Logano, and Chris Buescher duke it out during practice at Bristol. (Photo: Logan Riely | Getty Images)
While this is a dirt race at Bristol, the short track races at Richmond and Martinsville haven’t delivered a lot of passing opportunities. Will this race shake up the status quo?
Solomon : It may, just because of the unpredictability. This is only the second time the Cup Series has done a dirt race like this, and it’s the first time with the new car. I’d like to say that it will bring a lot of passing, but I’ve been disappointed with the short track car thus far. Obviously, the cars on Sunday are a bit different than the asphalt cars, but it’s an important race regardless. With a prime TV slot on a national holiday, NASCAR needs to put on a great show.
Tiongson : My hope is that we will see a slightly better race at Bristol than we did at Richmond and Martinsville. This is a different short track race from the past two weeks in terms of the surface.
However, as the team and I discussed during the race last Saturday night, it seemed the drivers lacked the power to make passes. The rear diffuser seemed to promote more corner speed but a lack of such on corner exit, a pivotal point at any track to make quality passes.
NASCAR has done some test sessions ahead of the race in which the series seems confident in the current car putting on a show. It seems like the concerns with visibility remains but hopefully doesn’t result in a messy race outside of some dirt and tempers flying about.
Lambeth : Bristol Dirt is such an unpredictable event. I think this could shake things up as a wildcard for drivers who don’t typically have the speed every week to secure a spot in the playoffs. However, NASCAR has a lot to prove this time around after last year’s event brought some head scratching. One of the main concerns was lack of visibility, with drivers being unable to see what’s going on ahead of them on track, which is a major safety concern. We saw the same issues in practice on Friday.
I’m not sure what can be done to put on a decent dirt race at NASCAR highest’s level since I’m admittedly not a dirt expert. But I sincerely want the event to be a success. If not, maybe it’s time to consider moving the event to a traditional dirt track or not having a dirt race at all. At the end of the day, I hope Bristol Dirt is a good show for the fans and drivers.
Kitchen : I am skeptical about passing opportunities this weekend at Bristol Dirt. After viewing practice, I believe that passing will be based on driver comfortability as well as how defined the grooves are.
Dirt tracks are ever changing and the wrong track maintenance can spell disaster for these drivers. On the positive side, unlike the one groove we saw last year, there appear to be three this weekend. So, the drivers have more options as to where they can make a pass, it’s just a matter if they’re comfortable enough to make those moves.
Gastineau : Since this is a completely different type of surface, I think it will allow for more passing, but not a ton. I think the people who don’t have much dirt experience will suffer in this race. Based on the practices and heat races that we’ve seen this weekend I think it will be more entertaining in terms of passing. Once one car gets out though it may be difficult to have a race for the lead.
Sisoler : This race weekend is truly a wildcard. We could see a metric ton of overtakes given the surface and drivers are able to feel confident enough in their cars/the track that they can do it, or see it could be so tricky with the new cars that we get a sort-of-but-not-really superspeedway single-file running pack around the top at Bristol for the majority of the race because no one wants to risk their machines until the stage/race end.
There do appear to be multiple grooves this time, so that does show some promise, and (I’m writing this before the Saturday Trucks race, so please forgive me if it doesn’t work out) I have hope that this will be a good race come Easter Sunday evening.
That being said, if it’s not a good event, well, it might be time to go talk to Tony Stewart about doing this at Eldora in 2023 and beyond before NASCAR runs a good idea into the ground. I honestly like the idea of stock cars on dirt, but I wasn’t a fan of last year’s race and if this attempt doesn’t work, maybe the sanctioning body should let someone with a bit more dirt experience take a crack at hosting their only dirt events in the top three series.
Question 2
Blaney hopes to be in the mix this evening against Larson and Chase Elliott. (Photo: Logan Riely | Getty Images)
Which driver stands out in terms of being a surprise contender in terms of mixing it up with the likes of Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, two of Cup’s top dirt track racers?
Shoppe : Daniel Suarez was the surprise of last year’s event leading laps and finishing 4th! As Team Trackhouse was a single car team then, hard to say if that performance was team or driver. I’ll expect both Trackhouse teammates to run well despite dirt experience. Other surprises could include, Justin Haley, Cole Custer, and Chris Buescher
Sharpe : The Dillon Brothers both did dirt racing growing up. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ty and Austin are up in the front during the race Sunday.
Joey Logano is also another contender, after winning last year’s race. During the practice sessions he was doing a fantastic job. It’s great to see a Penske car be able to conquer such a challenging track.
Raynor : After listening to Kyle Larson say he thinks dirt track guys really don’t have an advantage here, I feel like it’s anyone’s race. This new car evens the playing field. I can see Tyler Reddick doing well. Also, Joey Logano could be a contender at the end of the race.
Hobbs : I have no real knowledge of dirt races so it is difficult for me to answer this question. But, what I do know is that Chase Elliott has been upping his dirt game, so maybe more recent experience can help him out this weekend.
Conley : This race doesn’t run like a typical dirt race, so I don’t think the results will replicate a typical dirt race either. I think someone that can balance aggression with conservation, especially of the tires will come out on top. Last year’s winner, Joey Logano, will be a factor, William Byron comes to mind and even Kurt Busch. But the expectations with the dirt regulars will keep them out of victory lane.
That’s two rather sideways laps around the dirt surface of Bristol! Next, let’s rewind back to last Saturday night’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 at Martinsville with our race and points reports!
Solly chose a winner…
…and he takes over the points lead.
Ashley Hobbs considers some vital numbers for Sunday night’s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol!
Consider your favorite team’s performance from last year’s Bristol Dirt Race.
Not much needs to be said here.
Elliott eked out a top 10 last year.
The machine sees history repeating itself.
Now, here’s our top 10 starters for Sunday night’s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol!
Row 1
Cole Custer and Christopher Bell (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)
Row 2
Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)
Row 3
Kyle Larson and Justin Haley (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)
Row 4
Ty Dillon and Alex Bowman (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)
Row 5
Chase Elliott and Joey Logano (Photo: Ryan Daley | The Podium Finish)
Lastly, here’s our picks for Sunday night’s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol!
Another six pack for a Bristol Dirt race. (Photo: Jared Tilton | Getty Images and Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
Tiongson : Preliminarily, I’ll go with the man who won last year’s Bristol Dirt Race. There’s not a lot of statistics that we can draw off last year plus this year’s Cup car throws in another unknown. Joey Logano seems like a good, safe bet. I’ll look for him to mix it up with Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and Daniel Suárez under the lights at Bristol.
TPF Stats : Given that there has only been one Bristol Dirt race, the stats are difficult to fully grasp. That being said, the numbers foresee a repeat with Joey Logano.
Raynor : I pick Logano as my sleeper and winner this weekend.
Conley : As Logano’s won once, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to do it again. It’s dirt, that’s as good of a reason as any.
Torres : The dirt aces should deliver whenever the race does happen. I’m not going to go with the status quo in Kyle Larson, but his dirt rival Christopher Bell. He’s due for a big night where he can put himself a step closer in the playoffs. While not a traditional dirt track, I don’t think Bell will have a hard time getting around “Thunder Alley” and will put on a strong effort. If in the right spot, you can count on him getting the job done.
Solomon : A trendy pick? Yes. But, I don’t care. Christopher Bell is so good on dirt, and this is his best chance for a victory. The No. 20 team and Toyota as a whole have struggled in 2022, and a win would go a long way for both.
Gastineau : I mean, I think Bell’s dirt experience alone is reason enough, but he did well in practice and qualifying.
Sisoler : Bristol Dirt is a completely dice roll in terms of who can win this year. With a different car, a different surface and even a different start time for the 2022 edition of the event when compared to the 2021 race, it’s up in the air to who can win.
Given what we know as of 6 p.m. EST the day before, I’m gonna have to go with Tyler Reddick to get the win on Easter Sunday night because he has looked to be one of the quickest guys of the weekend in the Next Gen car.
Shoppe : Tyler Reddick has been great all season. Regardless of who has more dirt experience, nobody is better at at finding the fast line in an ever changing track than Reddick!
Kitchen : Reddick has shown strength all weekend. Therefore, he is the easy pick for Bristol Dirt.
Hobbs : I really have no good reason to be honest, but Kyle Larson is pretty epic on dirt so why not be epic in a stock car on dirt?
Lambeth : I think we’ll see a driver with a ton of dirt experience tame Bristol Dirt. He had one of the best long run cars in practice, so don’t be surprised to see Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rise above the rest and go to victory lane for the first time since he won two races at Daytona and Talladega in 2017.
Sharpe : After watching the practice sessions, Kurt Busch was always in the top five-10 overall speed.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week! Stay safe and wash your hands often. Help yourself, your family and friends by getting the COVID-19 vaccine!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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