NASCAR-Bristol - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

**intimid8er** · 03-22-2006, 03:03 PM

Finally! A short track!

With the exception of a road course, we've pretty much run the gamut of the different types of tracks that make up a season in NASCAR. So far, it's been a Roush-Hendrick shootout week after week. Last weeks upset by Kasey Kahne from the ailing Dodge camp was quite awesome. Those of you that follow, know that in 2004 Kasey was knocking on the door at all the tracks the tour has just completed, but some misfortune would end his bid for the checkered flag in the closing laps of any given event. To finally get a win at one was excellent, and to do it in a car that has been by and large labelled a dog by the competitors, made for an even sweeter victory.

Bristol is always an anomaly. The cream will rise to the top, but there are so many variables that could cause a driver to lose out in his quest for victory at this track. Bristol is a physical track, where frustrations between drivers can be relieved through liberal use of the chrome horn. The action at Bristol has been described as fighter jets in a cereal bowl. The track is blisteringly fast, and the action is incredible. Have the TiVo button handy. A trip to the fridge can sometimes eat up ten to twenty laps!!

Speaking of frustrations between drivers. I expect the off track drama between Masters Stewart and Busch (Kyle) to play out on the track. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Tony move the youngster up a lane with his front bumper, and if Mr. Busch, can't hang on and goes into the wall, I don't expect Tony will have any remorse.

What's the top ten going to look like?

Again, Roush will dominate the top ten. As is every week, but the dominant players of the squad change from track to track. Top Roush finishers will look like, Kenseth, Biffle, and Martin. Kenseth has some wins here, Biffle has been a top ten finisher, and Mark Martin is Mark Martin. Damn....I almost forgot Jamie McMurray. Jamie was a top ten finisher here in his Ganassi days. He's inherited the notebook of setups from Kurt Busch and the grizzled vet crew chief Jimmy Fennig. Kurt dominated here a couple of years back under Jimmy's guidance, and McMurray inherits all that knowledge.

Speaking of Kurt. His knowledge of how to turn a fast lap here combined with the excellent finishes Penske Racing South has garnered here may provide a surprise. However, the Penske teams' stubborn insistence on using last year's Intrepid bodies instead of working on the Charger is not proving to be a prudent decision. Although, aerodynamics do not play a big role at this track, we could see good finishes by the 2 and 12 teams.

RCR--Jeff Burton has enjoyed his RCR horses at this track the last few stops. The roll Jeff is on right now, could pan out to a win. It appears that RCR is on the right track lately, so Jeff and Kevin Harvick can gain some points in the Chase at this track, and a win would validate all the efforts at the RCR shop.

DEI-Dale Junior can wheel a car around this track. Even in last years nightmare season, he still had good finishes. Junior is on an even keel so far this year with some solid finishes. We might see a win here.

Kyle Petty- Eighth last week, and eighth here last year...Top ten? Sure why not?

Hendrick-Jeff Gordon has had more consistent finishes here than the rest of his squad. Jimmie has been up and down here. More often than not a victim of someone elses nonsense. Jeff's got that veteran instinct to stay out of trouble, but trouble can find anyone at Bristol.

Gibbs-Tony and Denny. Denny may surprise us all, and Tony is a good finisher here. However, the problem Tony may run into is his own self. He sometimes has the checkers or wreckers mentality at this place, and his feud with Kyle Busch may get the best of his judgement here.