39-TIME MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPION – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
BASS PRO SHOPS NRA NIGHT RACE
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE
AUGUST 20, 2016
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BEATING, BANGING AND BATTLING IN STORE FOR THE BOWTIE BRAND AT BRISTOL
The World’s Fastest Half-Mile next on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Docket
DETROIT – (August 16, 2016) – Three is the number associated with good fortune. Lucky for NASCAR they have the magic number, three, short tracks on the 23-circuit Sprint Cup Series schedule. This weekend the series heads to one of the most iconic and well-known tracks less than one mile in length – Bristol Motor Speedway.
Fans come from far and wide to witness the fender rubbing, beating and banging short track racing that is produced at the ‘Last Great Coliseum’. The 0.533-mile concrete oval with 24 to 28 degree variable banking in the corners is the little track have proven to have one of the biggest bites in all of racing. The tight turns and small space has 40 of the world’s most talented drivers running nose-to-tail for 500 intense miles of competition. Avoiding mayhem and staying out of trouble is one of the major keys to claiming the trophy in one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events.
Chevrolet has been the best at capturing the lightening in ‘Thunder Valley.’ The Bowtie Brand has recorded 43 wins in 111 races, more than any other brand. Team Chevy drivers Kurt Busch and fill-in driver for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. this weekend at Bristol, Jeff Gordon, are tied with Kyle Busch (Toyota) for the most wins of any active driver climbing behind the wheel for this weekend’s 500-mile event with five victories each to their credit.
This trip to Bristol will be of the utmost importance for several Team Chevy drivers as the Chase ‘bubble’ teams seek that illusive first win of the season to punch their ticket into this season’s Chase for the championship. A solid run at Bristol could be the difference maker with the playoff cut-off race at Richmond only three weeks away.
Recent modifications to the track surface will add a new twist to the concrete monster that teams and drivers will face at Bristol. After the Food City 500 in April, track management consulted with NASCAR and several top Cup Series drivers to make some tweaks to the racing surface. Changes made include: polishing of the lower racing groove, the addition of a substance that will help the tire rubber adhere to the racing surface, and the running of a tire machine on the surface since those changes were made.
Team Chevy will be vying for victory number 44 when the green flag waives on the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 500-lap/266.5-mile contest is scheduled to begin Saturday, August 20th at 8 p.m., ET. Live coverage will be available on NBCSN, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.