Bristol Motor Speedway
Track data
Race #: 24 of 36 (8-26-06)
Track Size: 0.533 Miles
Event: Sharpie 500
Number of Laps: 500
Location: Bristol, TN
Length of Event: 266.5 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 650 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 650 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 36 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 16 degrees
Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's event pole winner: Matt Kenseth 127.039 mph 8-26-05 15.104 seconds
Last year's event winner: Matt Kenseth 84.678 mph 8-27-05 3 hr, 08 min, 50 sec
Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman 128.709 mph 3-21-03 14.908 seconds
Track race record: Charlie Glotzbach 101.075 mph 7-11-71 2 hrs, 38 min, 12 sec
Historical data:
Previous winners at Bristol
Darrell Waltrip (12) Cale Yarborough (9) Dale Earnhardt (9) Rusty Wallace (9) David Pearson (5)
Jeff Gordon (5) Bobby Allison (4) Kurt Busch (5) Fred Lorenzen (3) Richard Petty (3)
Alan Kulwicki (2) Terry Labonte (2) Mark Martin (2) Davey Allison (1) Donnie Allison (1)
Bill Elliott (1) Charlie Glotzbach (1) Paul Goldsmith (1) Dick Hutcherson (1) Ernie Irvan (1)
Ned Jarrett (1) Bobby Johns (1) Junior Johnson (1) Benny Parsons (1) Jim Paschal (1)
Fireball Roberts (1) Jack Smith (1) Joe Weatherly (1) Dale Jarrett (1) Elliott Sadler (1)
Tony Stewart (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1) Kevin Harvick (1) Matt Kenseth (1)
Races won from the pole: 21 of 91 events (23%)
Races won from top 10: 75 of 91 events (82%)
Races won from outside top 10: 16 of 91 events (18%)
Track Milestones
Fred Lorenzen won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series pole at Bristol in 1961.
Jack Smith won the inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Bristol in 1961.
The track was re-configured to 36-degree banking, the most acute on the current NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
schedule, and re-measured at .533 miles for the 1969 Volunteer 500.
All races at Bristol have been 500 laps except for three: both 1976 and the first race in 1977.
The first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup night race at Bristol was the 1978 Volunteer 500.
The track surface was switched from asphalt to concrete for the 1992 Bud 500 (fall race).
The track name was changed from Bristol International Speedway to Bristol International Raceway in 1978
and then to Bristol Motor Speedway in the fall of 1996.
Track Update
Three of the last five races at Bristol have been won from starting positions outside the top 10 (60 percent).
However, in the 91 races since racing began there in 1961 only 16 were won from outside the top-10 (18 percent).
Qualifying Update
Elliott Sadler (Food City 500) and Matt Kenseth (Sharpie 500) won the Bud Poles at Bristol in 2005. They
are the only drivers other than Jeff Gordon (four) and Ryan Newman (two) to score a Bud Pole at Bristol since
2001. Qualifying was canceled this past spring.
Manufacturer Update
Kurt Busch's win this season is the first victory by a Dodge at Bristol since Richard Petty won the 1975
Volunteer 500, 61 Bristol races earlier. A Dodge, a Ford and a Chevrolet have each won in the last three races at
Bristol.
The Money
Purse $6,075,119
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $30,000
Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4028; Right-side -- D-4032
Other Nextel Cup Tracks At Which This Tire Combination Is Run: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Estimated Pit Window: Every 155-165 laps, based on fuel mileage
Pit Road Rules
Beginning with the 2002 spring race at Bristol, NASCAR instituted a change in the yellow-flag pit road
procedures at the Tennessee short track. The pace car will pick up the field in turn three (as opposed to turn one).
All cars will enter pit road at the turn-two entrance (regardless of front or backstretch pits). Cars pitting on the
front will drive the backstretch pit road then on the apron to the front stretch pit entrance in turn four. Cars pitting
on the back will follow the same path and all cars will exit pit road using the exit in turn one.
Would You Believe?
Kurt Busch finished 42nd and 26th, respectively, in his first two races at Bristol. In his nine appearances
there since, he has posted eight top-10 finishes, including five victories. He finished 35th in the spring of 2005,
posting just his second Bristol DNF.
Bristol Magic
Cale Yarborough led all 500 laps of the 1973 Southeastern 500, but it took him two weeks to do it. Fifty-two
laps were completed on March 11 when rain forced a halt to the race. The remaining 448 laps were run two weeks
later on March 25.
So Who Owns Bristol Now?
Kurt Busch has won five of the last nine races at Bristol and led in six. Busch has only competed in 11 career
races at Bristol.
Matt Kenseth has scored top 10 finishes in eight of the last nine races at Bristol, including a victory in the
2005 Sharpie 500.
Track Tidbits
The field will consist of 43 cars. The faster of two timed laps will be used to determine starting positions, with
the adjustments made afterward as required.
Matt Kenseth is the defending Bud Pole winner for the Sharpie 500.
Thirty-nine drivers have posted Bud Poles at Bristol; 19 have scored more than one.
Mark Martin leads all active drivers with seven Bud Poles at Bristol.
Retired driver Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with nine Bud Poles at Bristol.
Mark Martin scored four consecutive Bud Poles at Bristol (1995-1996).
Forty-nine races at Bristol have been won from the first four starting positions.
Only 16 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10, including six of the past 11.
The race has been won from the Bud Pole on 21 occasions at Bristol, the most of any starting position. Ten of
those have come in the spring race; 11 in the fall.
Tony Stewart won the Bud Pole for the Goody's Headache Powder 500 in the fall of 1999, breaking a
streak of five consecutive Bud Poles by the Wallace family. Kenny won the Bud Pole for the 1997 Goody's
Headache Powder 500 and Rusty won the other four.
The furthest back in the field that a race winner has started was 38th by Elliott Sadler in the 2001 Food City
500.
Matt Kenseth is the defending champion of the Sharpie 500.
Thirty-four different drivers have won a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Bristol since 1961; 13 have won
more than once.
Darrell Waltrip won 12 races at Bristol, more than any other driver.
Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon lead all other active drivers, each with five victories at Bristol.
In the 45 years of twice-yearly NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Bristol (1961 to 2005), a sweep of both
races in the same year has occurred 14 times, most recently by Kurt Busch in 2003.
Qualifying at Bristol has been canceled only once (spring 2006).
A race at Bristol has been shortened by rain on only two occasions (fall 1983 and spring 1996).
There has been only one caution-free race at Bristol: the 1971 Volunteer 500, won by Charlie Glotzbach.
Back-to-Back at Bristol
There have been 12 back-to-back victories posted at Bristol since 1980, including seven consecutive races
by Darrell Waltrip and three straight by Kurt Busch. Waltrip's seven consecutive Bristol victories tied the
NASCAR record for consecutive wins at one track set by Richard Petty at Richmond in 1970-73.
* Darrell Waltrip Spring 1981 through spring 1984 (six)
* Dale Earnhardt Both races 1985 and 1987 (two)
* Alan Kulwicki Fall 1991 and spring 1992 (one)
* Rusty Wallace Both races in 2000 (one)
* Kurt Busch Both races in 2003 and Spring 2004 (two)
Bristol Milestones
Brian Vickers is expected to make his 100th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Bristol Motor
Speedway.
Starting Up Front is not Important at Bristol
Three of the last five races at Bristol have been won from starting positions outside the top-10.
Bristol Pole Winners
There have been five different Bud Pole winners in the last five races at Bristol.
Bristol Streaks
Jeff Gordon has started in the top 15 in the last 26 straight races at Bristol. Gordon has competed in 27 races
there. Gordon has started on the front-row in 13 of his 27 races there.
Greg Biffle has posted five straight top-10 starts at Bristol.
Ryan Newman has posted seven straight top-10 starts at Bristol.
Recent Dominance at Bristol
Greg Biffle holds the longest streak among active drivers at Bristol, posting top-10 finishes in his last three
races there. Why are there so few finishing streaks among active drivers at Bristol?? The simple answer is because
it's Bristol.
Owner Wins at Bristol Motor Speedway
Junior Johnson scored 21 wins at Bristol Motor Speedway, the most of any car owner. Those 21 wins were
scored by: Cale Yarborough (nine), Darrell Waltrip (eight), Bobby Allison (two), Charlie Glotzbach (one) and
one by Johnson himself as an owner/driver. His last Bristol victory was by Darrell Waltrip in August 1986.
Different Owner/Driver Winners at Bristol Motor Speedway
There have been four different race winners and four different car-owner wins in the last four races at
Bristol.
Leading The Way at Bristol Motor Speedway
Cale Yarborough led 4,306 laps in 29 races at Bristol, the most of all drivers. Jeff Gordon leads all active
drivers with 2,388 laps led in 27 races at Bristol.
Would you Believe?
A Chevrolet, a Ford and a Dodge have each posted a victory in the last three races at Bristol.
Bristol Standouts
Richard Petty had 60 career starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, more than any other driver. He scored 26 topfive
and 37 top-10 finishes at Bristol which remain the most among all drivers.
Mark Martin leads all full-time drivers with 39 starts at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Cale Yarborough scored nine Bud Poles at Bristol Motor Speedway, leading all drivers.
Darrell Waltrip leads all drivers with 12 victories at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers, each with five victories at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Mark Martin leads all full time, active drivers with 15 top-five finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Mark Martin has scored 21 top-10 finishes at Bristol, the most among full time, active drivers.
Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with an 4.962 starting average in 27 races at Bristol.
Greg Biffle has a 9.857 finishing average in his seven races at Bristol Motor Speedway, the best among
active drivers.
Who's Hot
Jimmie Johnson has scored a top-15 finish in 20 of the 23 races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Matt Kenseth has posted 12 top-five finishes in 2006 and ranks second in the point standings. After 23
races one year ago, he ranked 15th.
Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne have each won four races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 17 top-10 finishes in the first 23 races of 2006, four more than
any other driver.
Denny Hamlin has scored five straight top-10 finishes. He has scored top-15 finishes in 13 of the last 14
races.
Kevin Harvick has posted seven straight top-15 finishes.
Tony Stewart has scored four straight top-10 finishes.
Brian Vickers has scored 10 straight top-20 finishes.
Top 10 in Points at This Track
First
Jimmie Johnson finished 13th in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway. He
remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, 58 points ahead of second-place Matt Kenseth.
Johnson has scored 17 top-10 finishes in 23 races this season, four more than any other driver. He has four
victories (Daytona, Las Vegas, Talladega and Indianapolis), tied with Kasey Kahne for the most victories this
season. Johnson has scored 20 top-15s in the first 23 races, the only driver to do so. One year ago Johnson ranked
second in the point standings, 126 behind then point leader Tony Stewart. Johnson has ranked among the top-10
for 92 straight races, since Atlanta in March 2004. Johnson has competed in nine races at Bristol Motor Speedway
scoring five top-10 finishes. Johnson has a 16.111 average finish at Bristol. He finished 36th in this race one year
ago, his worst Bristol finish and only Bristol DNF and then followed with a 30th-place finish there in March.
Johnson's best finish at Bristol Motor Speedway, third, came in this race in 2004. He has led in just three of his
nine races at Bristol and has never led the most laps there. Johnson has won at least one race each season for five
consecutive years (2002-2006).
Second
Matt Kenseth finished first in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, scoring
just third victory in 2006. Kenseth has also scored victories at California and Dover this season. His 259-point
lead over third-place Harvick insures that he will hold the position for at least another week regardless of his
finish at Bristol. Kenseth remained second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings for the 12th straight
race. One year ago he ranked 15th in the point standings after 23 races. Kenseth has ranked among the top-five in
the point standings since his victory in Race No. 2 at California, 22 straight races. He has competed in 13 races at
Bristol Motor Speedway scoring one victory and eight top-10 finishes. His only Bristol victory came in this race
one year ago. Kenseth has scored eight top-10 finishes in his last nine races at Bristol. He has been running at the
finish in all but two of his races at Bristol Motor Speedway. He finished third there in March. Kenseth has led in
six of his 13 races at Bristol. Kenseth has an 11.461 finishing average at Bristol Motor Speedway, ranking third
among active drivers behind Kevin Harvick (10.545 finishing average) and Greg Biffle (9.857 finishing average).
Kenseth has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).
Third
Kevin Harvick finished 11th in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and
remained third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Harvick has ranked among the top 10 in the
last 17 races, since Texas in April. One year ago he ranked 14th in the point standings. Harvick has scored 13
top-10 finishes in 2006 and top-15 finishes in his last seven races. He has competed in 11 races at Bristol Motor
Speedway scoring one victory, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He finished 37th in this race one year ago,
his worst finish and only DNF at Bristol. He finished second there in March. He has led in seven of his 11 races
at Bristol Motor Speedway. Harvick has a 10.545 average finish at Bristol Motor Speedway, second only to Greg
Biffle. Harvick is 216 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races left in the “Race to the Chase.”
Fourth
Mark Martin finished fifth in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and
climbed from sixth to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. At this point one year ago he ranked
fifth in the point standings. He has had only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005) in the 48 races since Dover
in June 2005. Martin has competed in 39 races at Bristol Motor Speedway scoring two victories and 21 top-10
finishes there. His last victory at Bristol Motor Speedway came there in August 1998. He finished 16th in this race
one year ago and sixth there in March. Martin has a 12.435 average finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has led
in 18 of his 39 races at Bristol. Martin has not won a race since his victory at Kansas in October 2005, 30 races
ago. Martin is just 138 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races left in the “Race to the Chase.”
Fifth
Tony Stewart finished third in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway, scoring
his 15th top-15 finish of the season. This was his 10th top-five finish in 2006. Stewart climbed from seventh to
fifth in the point standings. Stewart has scored top-10 finishes in the last four races. Stewart posted four finishes of
28th or worse in the five races leading to Pocono, dropping him from fourth to 11th before climbing back to 10th
after Pocono, ninth after Indianapolis, seventh after Watkins Glen and now fifth after Michigan. One year ago he
ranked first in the point standings. He has competed in 15 races at Bristol Motor Speedway scoring one victory
and five top-10 finishes. Stewart finished eighth in this race one year ago and 12th there in March. He has led
in seven of his 15 races there. He has a 16.266 finishing average at Bristol Motor Speedway. Stewart is just 127
points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races left in the “Race to the Chase.”
Sixth
Jeff Gordon finished second in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and
climbed from ninth to sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, posting the biggest gain among the
top-10 drivers. It marked his third runner-up finish in 2006. Gordon has scored two victories in 2006, winning at
Infineon and Chicago. His four DNFs in 2006 are the most of any driver in the top-10. Gordon has scored 15 top-
15 finishes in 23 races in 2006. Gordon has five victories and 16 top-10 finishes in his 27 races at Bristol Motor
Speedway. Gordon finished sixth in this race one year ago and 21st there in March. Gordon's last victory at Bristol
came there in this race in 2002. Gordon has led 2,388 laps in his 27 career races at Bristol Motor Speedway
ranking fifth all-time. Gordon is just 99 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races left in the “Race
to the Chase.”
Seventh
Kyle Busch finished 39th in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and dropped
from fifth to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago Busch ranked 22nd after
22 races. Busch has scored 12 top-10 finishes in 23 races in 2006. Busch ended a streak of eight straight top-15
finishes that began at Michigan in June. Busch has posted just one DNF in 2006, an accident at Lowe's Motor
Speedway. Busch has competed in three races at Bristol Motor Speedway finishing 33rd in this race one year ago
and eighth there in March, his only Bristol top-10 finish. He has led in just one of his three races there, leading 34
laps there in March. Busch is 90 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races left in the “Race to the
Chase.”
Eighth
Denny Hamlin finished ninth in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and
remained eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Hamlin has scored two victories in 2006,
sweeping both races at Pocono Raceway. He has scored 11 top-10 finishes in 2006, including the last five races.
Hamlin has been the highest finishing rookie in 12 of the 23 races this season. He has competed in one race at
Bristol Motor Speedway scoring a 14th-place finish. Hamlin is just 88 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne
with three races left in the “Race to the Chase.”
Ninth
Jeff Burton finished 42nd in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and dropped
from fourth to ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Burton posted the biggest loss in positions
among the top-10 drivers. Burton posted his first DNF since Talladega last October. He ended a streak of 16
straight top-15 finishes that began at Texas in April. He has scored 13 top-10 finishes in 23 races this season.
One year ago he ranked 21st in the point standings. Burton has competed in 25 races at Bristol Motor Speedway
scoring nine top-10 finishes there. He finished second in this race one year ago tying his best finish set there in
August 1998. He finished 34th there in March. He has led in just four of his 25 races at Bristol. Burton has a 19.6
average finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. Burton is 84 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races
left in the “Race to the Chase.”
10th
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished sixth in the 2006 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway and
remained 10th in the point standings. He has scored 16 top-15 finishes this season. Earnhardt has scored one
victory in 2006, winning at Richmond. He has competed in 13 races at Bristol Motor Speedway scoring one
victory and six top-10 finishes. He finished ninth in this race one year ago and 11th there in March, extending a
streak of six straight top-15 finishes there. He has been running at the finish in all but his first race there. He has a
13.230 finishing average at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has led in just four of his 13 races at Bristol. Earnhardt Jr.
is just 49 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne with three races left in the “Race to the Chase.”
