- More than a few drivers will be skittish going into this race, especially those fighting for that magical 35th spot in the standings.
- Boris Said is in 35th, but three other drivers are within five points: Robby Gordon (-3, in 36th); David Gilliland (-4, in 37th), and Max Papis (-5, in 38th). I look for Said to struggle and drop out of the top 35, Gilliland to run strong and finish the race in the top 35, and Papis to stay where he's at. As for Gordon, meh.
- For those drivers that will be in the top 12 after Bristol, they stand a better than even chance of making the Chase. For the drivers just outside the top 12, they need to have a strong run at Bristol to put themselves in position to make their move prior to the Chase.
- The Bullring has PLENTY of drama and PLENTY of opportunities to slip up. A wreck or mechanical issue will put a driver multiple laps down with no chance of making up ground. At that point, just hold your position and hope you gain a few positions through attrition.
- With the narrower track due to the SAFER barrier, a driver has to be more patient than normal.
- Thinking of you: Sterling Marlin.
- Look for the usual suspects to run up front: the Busch Brothers, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, the RCR drivers, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth.
- Amazingly, this track isn't one of Jimmie Johnson's better ones, despite finishing in the top 5 in his last Bristol start last summer.
Predicted Winner: Jeff Burton. Burton breaks RCR's long winless streak and goes into Victory Lane. (Ironically, Burton got RCR's last win, October 2008, in Charlotte.)
Predicted rest of Top 5: 2) Kevin Harvick; 3) Kyle Busch; 4) Denny Hamlin; 5) Greg Biffle.
Darkhorse top ten driver: Marcos Ambrose (he's long overdue).
6 comments:
Gas it up, Jon!
Jinxing Burton now? LOL
Stremme is filling in for Boris at Bristol. Hard to believe that Boris has never raced there.
Ambrose has the highest average finish of all active drivers at BMS.
Sterling will be missed. One of the last of the old-school racers. Love how after a win, he'd always, "thank the boys back at the shop."
This race could be acction packed but then again it depends who is out front, again.
Nice G&G jon
Burton cracking the whip there ? That would be an upset of sorts even though he deserves it, very classy on the track.
Said cannot run Bristol because his muscles are programmed to make right turns at maximum of 12.4 seconds.
Ambrose looks like a winner, if his team does not do it for him he will land a big ride when Mark Martin retires.
Sterling Marlin ...The fog clears ....Bristol, Spring of 1987. Earnhardt love tap's Sterling in the first turn and he back's it into the wall real hard starting a big fire and a big caution. Dale goes on to win. It was just one of them racin deals like Atlanta couple weeks ago.
Richard Petty at the age of 50 finished second that day and schooled his son big time with out love tap's
Good Gas and Go. I thought Kyle Busch would be the driver to beat, but I'm not too sure after he qualified in 38th.
For the win, I'm leaning more toward Harvick than I am Burton.
JOEY IS ON THE POLE!!!
Gene, LOL! You mean David "I'm the cause of multiple wrecks" Stremme? Sterling is definitely missed.
Photogr, I expect LOTS of rubbin', and rubbin' is racin'!
RL, thanks. Too bad for all the Said Heads that made the trek to Bristol. It wouldn't surprise me to see Ambrose in the #5 when Martin retires.
Gonger, it looks like JJ's the man to beat.
Beverly, Joey's been strong, hope he does well.
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