By John Schutt
NASCAR Cup Series, Food City Dirt Race, Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, Bristol Tenn., Monday, March 29.
The half-mile mile asphalt track nick-named the Colosseum of NASCAR racing, was converted to a dirt track. More than 2,000 truck-loads of special dirt was brought in to lay a perfect surface over the pavement to have a dirt race with Cup cars.
Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jr. and Kyle Larson were the favorites at the start. however, the Penski Ford of Joe Logano pulled off a two-lap shoot-out to win the race! Following Logano were Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in second place, Denny Hamlin in third, Daniel Suarez in fourth, and Ryan Newman in fifth.
The dirt event was plagued from the start with rain so hard and deep, there was localized flooding. The race was postponed from Sunday to Monday afternoon after the track was fixed and water was removed.
The Joe Gibbs Racing crew led the first 40 laps with driver Hamlin. Kyle Busch, and Truex, Jr. traded places.
Near the end of the first stage Larson, Kevin Harvick each was hit and Truex, Jr. won the stage over William Byron.
In the second stage dirt got into play with the build up on cars’ grill openings and vision problems for the drivers.
Suarez, who has never participated in a dirt race, led 58 laps with limited vision from the dirt. Lack of vision is said to have caused the big wreck of the second stage with racers Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, and Larson. Kyle Busch claimed he couldn’t see the car in front of him.
During the final stage, Logano was in the lead ahead of Hamlin with Truex, Jr. in third.
A shoot-out with two laps to go netted a victory for Logano over Riky Stenhouse, Jr..
NASCAR Cup Series, Folds of Honor Quick Trip 500, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga., Sunday, March 21.
Blaney was able to pass Larson with eight laps to go and win the 500-lap race. In third place was Alex Bowman, Hamlin in fourth, and Kyle Busch in fifth.
Hamlin won the pole, but Larson took early lead and won the first stage.
In the second stage Kurt Busch was in top three, but hit wall. Larson won second stage over Blaney.
In the final stage Blaney passed Larson with eight laps to go and took the victory.
Notes:
• There will be no Cup race over Easter weekend.
• Retired NASCAR driver, Jimmie Johnson, will try his hand at Indy car racing this year!