After some concern, Bristol doesn't change top 35

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- The drivers in or out of the critical top 35 in the Sprint Cup owners' standings didn't change following Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

After Bristol, among the go-or-go-home set, former two-time champion Tony Stewart and highly-regarded newcomer A.J. Allmendinger remained solidly inside the top 35, as they've been all season.

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Allmendinger was 16th, the last car on the lead lap and Stewart was 17th, one lap down. Allmendinger failed to mention after the race that his latest solid effort had moved him up four spots in the standings, to 16th.

"It was a finish at Bristol, that's all that matters," Allmendinger said. "The car was pretty good. I think if we could have gotten track position, we could have run up there. I had used all my tires up trying to get around everybody [but] overall, a good points day."

Allmendinger is relishing the thought of going to Martinsville as a guaranteed starter, something he's experienced very little of in his brief career.

"We won't have to worry about qualifying," Allmendinger said. "The pressure to qualify up front is still there, but we know we won't be going home."

David Gilliland and TRG Motorsports, who came into Bristol in 34th, but only 24 points clear of 36th in the owners' standings, had their first triple-dose of in-race misfortune this season but, after finishing 36th, 10 laps down, they remained in 35th, now 21 points ahead of 36th.

Gilliland moved forward from his 14th starting position and was into the top 10 by Lap 70. But on a pit stop at Lap 125, three lug nuts "hung up," caused a 28-second pit stop that knocked Gilliland back to 30th. (Continued)