Up to Speed: Food City 300 at Bristol Preview

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

BRISTOL, Tenn. – It’s the 22^nd race of the season and three full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series regulars have combined to score eight victories. The Xfinity Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 300. A slew of Cup drivers, the battle to make the Playoffs, and stage racing are just some of the storylines heading into the 22^nd race of the season.

Coverage for the Food City 300 is scheduled to start Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. Bristol Motor Speedway has hosted the 22^nd race of the season since the 2015 season. In 72 races at the 0.500-mile high-banked concrete Oval, 46 drivers have claimed victory. The last time a Xfinity Series regular competing exclusively in the Xfinity Series won at Bristol Motor Speedway was Elliott Sadler in 2012.

Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Jeff Green, and Sadler are the only former winners entered in Friday night’s race.

The last time the Xfinity Series visited Bristol, Ryan Preece took the victory in dramatic fashion, taking the lead on the final restart. Preece took the lead from his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Brandon Jones. The race finished under caution after a last lap incident. Eight drivers that finish in the top-10 that day are entered in Saturday’s race.

By the Numbers

What:Food City 300, NASCAR Xfinity Series Race 22

Where: Bristol Motor Speedway– Bristol, Tennessee (Opened: 1961)

TV/Radio:NBCSN, 7:30 p.m. ET / PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90

Track Size: 0.500-mile High-banked Concrete Oval

Banking: 26-30 degrees in the turns and 6-10 degrees on the straightaways.

Race Length: 300 Laps, 160 Miles (Three Stages, 85/170/300)

2017 Race Winner:Kyle Busch – No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry (Started on the pole, 186 laps led).

Track Qualifying Record: Kyle Larson (14.992 seconds, 127.988 mph – 4/22/2017).

Storylines Heading into the Food City 300:

There are several storylines going into this weekend’s race to watch for:

• Ty Dillon returns to the No. 3 Bass Pro shops / Cabela’s Chevrolet Camaro SS for Richard Childress Racing.
• Jairo Avila, Jr. will make his series debut in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro SS for BJ McLeod Motorsports.
• Tyler Reddick will have Food City as the primary sponsor of his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports.
• Austin Cindric will be in the No. 12 Pirtek Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Kyle Busch returns to the No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Joey Logano will be in the No. 22 Snap-on Ford Mustang for Team Penske.
• Chase Elliott returns to the No. 23 Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Chevrolet Camaro SS for GMS Racing.
• Kyle Larson will make his first start of the season in the No. 42 DC Solar Chevrolet Camaro SS for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Chase Briscoe returns to the No. 60 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.

Weekend Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, August 16

• NXS Practice 1 (10:05 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.)
• NXS Practice 2 (1:35 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.)

Friday, August 17

• NXS Qualifying (3:40 p.m. on NBCSN)
• NXS Food City 300 (7:30 p.m. – 300 laps, 160 miles – on NBCSN, SiriusXM Channel 90, and the Performance Racing Network)