NNS at Bristol 300

Bristol Motor Speedway


“Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 300”



BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – The Nationwide Series ran their fourth race at the half mile bowl. Titled “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” track, this track is more like a coliseum. It is also labeled “Thunder Valley.” Justin Allgaier (31) took the Pole Position for this race, and Austin Dillon (3) started second. Jeremy Clements (51) was reinstated this week after he was suspended for racial comments. He did take a class in racial diversity before NASCAR allowed his reinstatement. This race was sponsored by Century Link. The race was scheduled for 300 laps, equaling 150 miles. Brad Keselowski (22), Kevin Harvick (33) and Kyle Busch (54) were the favorites for the win.

The pre-race ceremonies had “The Pledge of Allegiance” read then David Wilson provided the “Invocation”, Benton Blount Sang the “National Anthem”. Jeff Foxworthy was the “Grand Marshal, and Trevor Bayne (6) was the In-Race Reporter.

Allgaier was able to get off to a great start and led the early laps of the race. The first caution came out for Jamie Dick (55) spinning out around lap 27. Sam Hornish Jr. (12) clipped him coming out of the turn.

The second caution came out near lap 64, when Brad Sweet (5) spun out on track all by himself. On lap 88, Elliott Sadler (11) was “Black Flagged” for not keeping up enough speed on track. He took his car to the garage for repairs. It was believed to be an engine issue.

On lap 105, Brian Vickers (20) tagged Jamie Dick. That sent Dick’s car into the inside wall. As his car was coming to a stop, Nelson Piquet Jr. (30) crashed into him. Both cars had severe damage and were done for the day.

On lap 123, the third caution flew for Jeremy Clements. He was tagged and ran into the outside wall. His tire went down and debris began falling off the car to create the caution.

At mid-race Kyle Busch led with Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick in tow. A multi-car wreck then happened near lap 160, when Brad Teague (70) tagged the back of Hal Martin (44). Martin’s car bounced off the outside and inside walls before Jeffrey Earnhardt’s Car (79) ran nose to nose with him. Austin Dillon and Reed Sorenson (43) both ended up with minor damage from the incident.

Brad Keselowski took the lead from Busch after making pit stops, and Justin Allgaier was hit with a speeding penalty on pit road. That dropped him to the back of the field. The sixth caution came out on lap 178 for debris on the track in turn four. After getting involved in the caution on lap 160, Dillon was able to get back on the lead lap with this caution. His car was running hot though, at nearly 260 degrees.

On lap 194, Regan Smith (7) got loose and ran into the side of Brad Keselowski (leader) and Kevin Harvick took the lead. One lap later Keselowski’s tire blew out, sending him to the pit road for repairs. As he fell one lap down, NASCAR threw the seventh Caution of the race on lap 196. A lap car was somewhat involved with the contact between Smith and Keselowski as they were running up on it as the leaders were trying to stay racing one another. Keselowski fell back into the twenties for position after the incident.

The two best racers at Bristol now had the top two spots on track. Between the two they have won nine times in the Nationwide Series, with Harvick winning five of those nine. Kyle Larson (32) was in third spot at this point, in only his fourth race in the series. As usual Kyle Busch forced a three-wide when lap cars were involved, forcing Harvick to let off or crash to take the lead. Harvick has lost plenty of races in this manner, being put in a bad position by lap cars at the wrong time in a race.

On lap 265, Jason White (00) had a tire failure as he ran into the outside wall. Kevin Harvick and Regan Smith were the only cars to make a pit stop in the top fifteen spot.

Kyle Larson had the win, when Kyle Busch ran into him, pinning him to the wall so Busch would cross the line first. Larson had the run for his first victory of his career, but Busch seen him coming and simply ran him into the wall. I look at this as a cheating way to take the win.

The rest of the top ten were: Brian Vickers (20), Sam Hornish Jr. (12), Kevin Harvick (33), Regan Smith (7), Chris Buescher (16), Parker Kligerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2).

Sam Hornish Jr. has the points lead over Justin Allgaier by 22 points.

The next race is at California on Saturday at 4:30 pm on ESPN