Bring It On!

NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol Tennessee, which is also my home town and one of the biggest things that happen for the NASCAR  hillbilly fans there.

 

It was the first Nextel Cup race on Bristol's repaved racetrack, and the new concrete contributed to thrilling races for the Truck Series and Busch Series earlier in the week. Everyone expected the same results for the Cup event, but it was slow in developing as the race began with 126 uneventful parade laps.

 

Then Johnny Sauter spun into the wall to bring out the first caution, and Kahne had to use a spectacular move to avoid plowing into him as he passed by the accident scene.

 

Racing soon resumed until Denny Hamlin's motor exploded in a puff of white smoke to bring out the second caution. Hamlin, a threat to win here in March, thought he could have contended had his engine not failed. Regardless, he was confident of his championship hopes.

 

The racing finally heated up from there, as a frustrated Jimmie Johnson nudged the lapped car of Aric Almirola as he tried to pass. It sent Almirola into A.J. Allmendinger and brought out the third caution of the race.

 

A sense of urgency seemed to soon take over, as drivers turned it up a notch and began racing side-by-side for position. It set up a fabulous chase between Edwards, Earnhardt and Kahne with 166 laps to go, as the three jockeyed for the lead.  Kahne started from the pole and was looking for his second win in as many nights -- he won Friday night's Busch Series event -- and it looked early as if he'd get it as he led 305 of the 500 laps.

 

They went inside and out in a three-wide battle for the lead that was hampered by Michael Waltrip's lapped car. Edwards finally prevailed, taking Earnhardt with him as they sliced past Kahne.

Edwards then pulled far away and wasn't challenged over five restarts in the final 125 laps.

 

Edwards passed Kasey Kahne for the lead with 166 laps to go and wasn't challenged the rest of the way as he drove to his second victory of the season.

 

Beating Kahne to the line by 1.405 seconds, Carl Edward’s takes the checkered flag for the WIN to Victory Lane, then did his trademark backflip on the finish line to celebrate with his team mates.  Carl Edwards picked up another 10 bonus points to use in his pursuit of the Nextel Cup title with a dominating victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

Trivial Question:   Which NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers have the most wins at Bristol Motor Speedway?     Answer: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson (four wins each), Tony Stewart (three).

 

BOOP-BOOP-A-DOOP