Gaughan's first race as married man at new Bristol (cont'd)

Second year star Erik Darnell, who won his first race earlier this season at Kansas, has just one start at Bristol but agrees with Cook that the new surface will lead to better racing.

"The resurfacing project was a great success in my eyes," Darnell said. "I'm really looking forward to the race; I think it's going to be a great one. When things happen at Bristol, they happen in a hurry. You've got to stay on your toes every single lap."

At least one driver disagrees with the assessment that the racing will change at Bristol with the new surface. Ted Musgrave, who has finishes of sixth and third in the last two races at Bristol, says fans should expect the same aggressive racing "the world's fastest half-mile" is known for, new concrete and all.

"When I heard what they wanted to do, my reaction was 'Great.' And it is," Musgrave said. "Bristol Motor Speedway is a racetrack where I always wanted to see two grooves of racing, a second lane, a passing area. My first reaction was cool, then, after testing, I really don't think it is going to change the racing we expect at Bristol. I think the 'bump and run' and 'push' to get by will still be there -- the action won't change.

"The track is a little bit easier to drive now. Whether that's good or bad, I'm not quite sure. Sometimes the person that wins at Bristol is the one that has the best handling truck under extreme conditions."

The consensus in the garage is Bristol is more open than before with the second racing groove. Does this mean the beating and banging were used to seeing at Bristol will disappear, only time will tell.

As for Gaughan, fighting for track position with 35 other drivers might not be the only battle he faces this weekend. Being newly married brings a set of new challenges, and his team isn't helping matters.

"My crew chief bought me and my lovely bride Marriage for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Marriage," Gaughan said. "Tatum and I had a big fight over which one should get which book. We couldn't choose who was the idiot and who was the dummy, so we share them. We each get a chapter and then we switch books."

Ahhh, married life. Congratulations to the newlyweds, Brendan and Tatum Gaughan.