Posted on by Zack Albert

RELATED: Official NASCAR release

NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway announced the format for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race on Wednesday, leaning heavily on a new rules package to shake up the annual invitational event.

Among the most significant updates are engine restrictor plates to reduce horsepower and revised aerodynamic features — all designed to tighten the competition for the $1 million winner’s prize in the May 19 event (8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

It will be the first time restrictor plates are used at the 1.5-mile Charlotte track. The aero package as a whole takes a cue from the rules that drew positive reviews during an Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last season.

RELATED: Fast facts | Eligible drivers

For the All-Star event, cars will use a splitter borrowed from the 2014 rules package with a 2018 radiator pan, a 6-inch tall spoiler with two ‘ear’ extensions measuring 12 inches wide, and manufacturer-specific air ducts designed to minimize the advantage of lead cars in undisturbed air.

“NASCAR is committed to innovation and will always work to improve the racing product for every series and venue,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The yearly Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race is an opportunity to see your favorite drivers compete under a unique and exciting format and rules package. The positive feedback following last year’s Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis gave us the foundation to implement this dynamic package for the All-Star Race. We believe the hard work of the entire industry will provide the best race for our passionate fans.”

RELATED: All-Star Race winners through the years

That rules package led to a record number of leaders and lead changes for the Xfinity Series at Indianapolis last year. The successful debut prompted series officials to expand its usage this season, adding events at Pocono (June 2) and Michigan (June 9) to its return at Indy (Sept. 8).

A graphic of the All-Star Race rules package
Graphic by NASCAR Creative Design

The race is scheduled for four stages. Stage 1 is scheduled to end at Lap 30, Stage 2 at Lap 50, Stage 3 at Lap 70, and a final shootout that ends at the Lap 80 distance. Only green-flag laps will count in the final stage. In a new wrinkle to previous formats, NASCAR Overtime rules will be in effect for the end of each stage.

“The All-Star Race has a long history of edginess and innovation. We want to challenge drivers, spark on-track action and create the best show for the fans,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. “This race has always been a proving ground for some of the best innovations in our sport, from running under the lights to stage racing and double-file restarts. It’s the perfect opportunity to try something different, and with a 10-lap shootout for a million dollars, expect the unexpected on May 19.”

This year’s distance will be 10 laps longer than the 2017 edition, but will feature a pared-down procedural structure. Unlike previous formats, there will be no mandated pit stops, no choice of alternate tire compounds, no eliminations and no inversions of the running order.

A graphic of the All-Star Race format
Graphic by NASCAR Creative Design

Eligibility for this year’s All-Star field remains largely unchanged. Drivers who have already qualified for an All-Star berth, with their basis for eligibility: 

• Monster Energy Series race winners in 2017 and 2018 to date: Ryan Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Martin Truex Jr.

• Former All-Star Race winners who are competing full-time: Jamie McMurray.

• Series champions who are not otherwise eligible: None.

• The three stage winners in the Monster Energy Open qualifying race

• The winner of the fan vote.

MORE: Best All-Star Race moments 

Posted on by Staff Report

What channels are NASCAR races on this week? We answer that and provide all the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: Get the NBC Sports App |  How to find FS1, FS2 | Get FOX Sports GO | How to find NBCSN

Monday, April 16
1 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500, FOX
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN:
12 p.m.: MRN Motorsports Monday presented by Outback Steakhouse (Hosts: Steve Post, Erin Evernham)

Tuesday, April 17
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN:
7 p.m.: NASCAR Live (Host: Mike Bagley)

Wednesday, April 18
1:30 a.m.: NASCAR The Decades: 1980’s, NBCSN
3:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300, FS1 (re-air)
5:30 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500, FS2 (re-air)

On MRN:
Noon: MRN Crew Call presented by Hercules Tires (Hosts: Dion Williams, Sammi Jo Francis)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (Hosts: Kyle Rickey, Hannah Newhouse)

Thursday, April 19
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN:
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday presented by Sunoco

Friday, April 20
1 a.m.: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East: Bristol Motor Speedway, NBCSN
9:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
10:30 a.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1
11 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
noon: NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
12:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
4 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole Qualifying, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
5 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, FS1 (Canada: TSN 3)
6:30 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay: Xfinity Series, FS1
7 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250, FS1 (Canada: TSN 3)

On MRN:
10 a.m.: Inside Line Fantasy Racing Show (Hosts: Tyler Burnett, Robbie Mays)

Saturday, April 21
12:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, FS2 (re-air)
1:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250, FS2 (re-air)
4:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1 (re-air)
5:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, FS1 (re-air)
6:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250, FS1 (re-air)
2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1988 Daytona 500, FS1
3 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
6 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pre-Race Show, FOX
6:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400, FOX (Canada: TSN 1, 4)

Sunday, April 22
10:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1
11 p.m.: Beyond the Wheel 2018, FS1

Posted on by Jason Lofing

Ryan Luza won his second straight NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series race of 2018, passing both Ray Alfalla and Nikolas Shelton with four laps to go at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Luza had to overcome some adversity on pit road when he overshot his box on his final stop with 53 laps to go. The mistake cost him the lead as he emerged over two seconds behind both Shelton and Alfalla.

Even with the setback, Luza had plenty of time to catch the leaders as he was running a tenth-of-a-second quicker per lap. With six laps left, Luza had all but eliminated the gap to the leaders, who were running nose to tail with Shelton out front. As the trio came off Turn 2, Shelton got tight and that allowed Alfalla to get a run on Shelton. At the same time, Luza also got a run on Alfalla and the leaders were suddenly three wide entering Turn 3.

Shelton used the momentum of the top groove to his advantage as he cleared the other two off Turn 4 as Alfalla and Luza made slight contact. Despite the contact, Luza closed in once again off Turn 2 with four laps to go. This time, the run was too big for Alfalla or Shelton to stop as Luza cleared both by the exit of Turn 4.

RELATED: Full iRacing schedule and results

Luza still had lapped traffic to deal with after taking the lead, but he navigated through it without issue and held off Alfalla by .318 seconds at the checkered flag. Shelton fell to third while Chris Shearburn came from 39th to finish fourth. Michael Guest rounded out the top five.

Vegas saw a few front-runners find trouble early, with Bobby Zalenski getting caught up in Jimmy Mullis’ mess on Lap 16 after Mullis was sent into the wall by Brad Davies. The two spun through the front straight grass, but no caution flew as neither car wound up on the racing surface.

On Lap 52, Keegan Leahy was knocked out of contention while leading after contact with Jarl Teien. Teien had crashed in front of the leader and was sitting stationary near the top of Turn 1 when Leahy seemingly did not see the stricken car ahead. Leahy could not avoid contact, which caused serious damage to his car and relegated him to a 36th-place finish.

The crash would bring out one of only two yellow flags during the evening as the second half of the 167-lap event went much smoother than the first. The long run let two different pit strategies play out with some drivers choosing to pit an extra time for tires. The short-pitting strategy, usually a safe bet in iRacing, fell short this time as tire falloff was below average. Zack Novak was the highest-finishing driver on the two-stop strategy in 10th, more than 18 seconds adrift of Luza.

With his back-to-back wins, Luza has closed within three points of the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series championship lead, as he picked up six points on points leader Alfalla. Leahy’s poor result dropped him to third, 22 off the lead. Michael Conti has quietly worked his way to fourth after notching a top 10, moving in front of Zalenski, who completes the front five.

The fifth race of the 2018 season takes the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series to Richmond Raceway, the first track less than one mile in length. Richmond is always one of the more unpredictable races on the schedule with past events ranging from very clean to caution-filled with a double-digit number of yellow flags. Can Luza avoid trouble and make it three wins in a row on his quest for a second straight title? Find out in two weeks on iRacing Live!

Posted on by Staff Report

The No. 9 team in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from Hendrick Motorsports received an L1-level penalty for a violation found at the NASCAR R&D Center stemming from Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway.

The team was found to have violated Sections 20.4.8.1 (dealing with rear window support). A brace that supports the rear window did not meet specifications for keeping rear window glass rigid in all directions.

NASCAR fined crew chief Alan Gustafson $50,000 and suspended him for the next two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship points events. The team was assessed with the loss of 20 owner points and 20 driver points.

Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal, according to a team press release. Kenny Francis will serve as the interim crew chief.

Chase Elliott drove the No. 9 Chevrolet to an 11th-place finish in Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, which was won by Kyle Busch.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Numbers mean plenty when it comes to building out your Fantasy Live teams each week. NASCAR.com will examine the stats outlook for each track in advance to help give you an edge as you set your lineups ahead of the race weekend.

Don’t forget to check back on NASCAR.com for additional insight from fantasy expert RJ Kraft, and watch Fantasy Fastlane with Jessica Ruffin and NBC Sports’ Steve Letarte for even more advice.

RELATED: Play Fantasy Live now | How the new Fantasy Live works | Driver stats

Top five in average running position (per loop data from 2005 to the present) at Bristol:

Driver Average Running Position
Erik Jones 5.135
Chase Elliott 10.383
Kevin Harvick 11.855
Jimmie Johnson 13.039
Kyle Larson 13.227

Top five in stage points earned at Bristol in 2017:

Driver Stage Points Stage Wins
Erik Jones 28 0
Kyle Larson 27 1
Jimmie Johnson 24 0
Martin Truex Jr. 21 1
Joey Logano 19 0

Top five in points earned at Bristol in 2017:

Driver Race Points Race Win
Jimmie Johnson 90 1
Kyle Larson 86 0
Erik Jones 83 0
Kevin Harvick 78 0
Denny Hamlin 76 0

Most laps led in 2017 races at Bristol:

Driver Laps Led Race Wins
Kyle Larson 272 0
Erik Jones 260 0
Kyle Busch 156 1
Martin Truex Jr. 116 0
Jimmie Johnson 81 1

Average starting position for last 10 winners: 8.4; last three Bristol winners have started outside the top 10; two of last three spring race winners have won from the pole


Active drivers to win a pole at Bristol: Denny Hamlin (3), Ryan Newman (3), Jimmie Johnson (1), Erik Jones (1), Kasey Kahne (1), Joey Logano (1), Kevin Harvick (1), Kurt Busch (1) and Kyle Busch (1).

Most recent pole winner: Erik Jones, August of 2017


Last time pole-sitter won here: Carl Edwards, spring of 2016

Where stage winners started from: Pole, third, fifth and 18th.

Winning manufacturers of last 10 races: Toyota-4, Chevrolet-3, Ford-3

Posted on by Staff Report

Kyle Busch’s victory at Texas Motor Speedway was the 44th of his career in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott for 16th place all time.

Busch, who now races against Elliott’s son, Chase, provides an interesting stats comparison with “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville.”

PHOTOS: Bill Elliott’s career

Elliott’s 44th win came in the penultimate race of the 2003 season at Rockingham. Elliott, then 48 years old, led 140 laps in a Ray Evernham Dodge to cap his career, although he’d go on to race 98 more times in NASCAR’s top series over the next nine years.

Let’s take a look at how Busch’s career stats match up to Elliott’s at the time of both drivers’ 44th win.

Key Stats Bill Elliott Kyle Busch
Starts 730 469
Wins 44 44
Top fives 175 166
Top 10s 318 247
Laps led 11,178 14,730
Laps completed 207,750 131,011
Busch Pole Awards 55 28
Age 48 32

“Rowdy” clearly is in good company here, and he has a few other NASCAR Hall of Famers in his sights.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has won 15 races over the past three-plus seasons, so he likely has a few more wins in him this year. Buck Baker is next in his sights with 46 wins, with Hall of Famer Herb Thomas looming after.

Here’s a look at the all-time top-20 winners in Monster Energy Series history, with an asterisk denoting an active driver.

Rank Driver Wins
 1.  Richard Petty  200
 2. David Pearson  105
 3.  Jeff Gordon  93
t-4. Bobby Allison 84
t-4. Darrell Waltrip 84
t-6. Jimmie Johnson* 83
t-6. Cale Yarborough 83
8. Dale Earnhardt 76
9. Rusty Wallace 55
10. Lee Petty 54
t-11. Junior Johnson 50
t-11. Ned Jarrett 50
13. Tony Stewart 49
14. Herb Thomas 48
15. Buck Baker 46
t-16. Kyle Busch* 44
t-16. Bill Elliott 44
t-18. Kevin Harvick* 40
t-18. Mark Martin 40
20. Tim Flock 39

 

Posted on by Zack Albert

Tuesday’s welcome news that Monster Energy has returned as the title sponsor of NASCAR’s top division came with a compelling hint at what the future might hold, not just for the powerful energy drink brand but for the sport’s established sponsorship model in general.

Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer, touched on the potential evolution of stock-car racing’s sponsorship structure in a Tuesday media roundtable, which dovetailed with Monster Energy’s one-year renewal with the sanctioning body. Phelps said the push for the shorter-term contract extension was mutual, as both sides shifted focus toward establishing a new framework for companies involved in the sport.

“This is something we’ve been exploring for a while,” Phelps said, noting that the idea was first broached roughly three years ago. “It’s more to do with this notion that we want to make it easier for sponsors to say yes. The entitlement position, the things that we’re talking about, we’re already requiring of our entitlement partners right now, but we’re talking about broadening it, so it’s not just one company at the top of the pyramid, but it’s multiple categories, multiple companies that will allow us to make it easier.

“We think there’s greater value, frankly, for the sponsors by doing this, but it will take the next level of collaboration within the industry.”

Phelps said that the sport already works with sponsorship packages that involve multiple stakeholders, but that a new model could be even more inclusive, bundling sponsorship across various entities such as the sanctioning body, race tracks and TV and media partners.

RELATED: Monster Energy renews with NASCAR

That new look of corporate backing also would be segmented into different levels or tiers of participation, similar to other sports. Though Phelps added that Monster Energy’s return at the entitlement level in 2020 was “highly unlikely,” he expects the company to return as a key partner in a different role. And Monster VP of Sports Marketing Mitch Covington told the Sports Business Journal on Tuesday that the California-based company was open to participating in the potential new structure, saying, “We’re always open to good ideas and we want to continue to be a part of the sport one way or the other.”

Monster Energy joined the sport as an entitlement partner in 2017, expanding its brand’s reach to a new sports domain. Monster has brought a maverick approach in an effort to win over younger and more diverse fans — an effort, Phelps said, that NASCAR would maintain over the coming seasons.

“That’s a journey that we’re going to continue on,” Phelps said. “… We have to continue on to make sure our content is as strong as it can be that we’re pushing through the digital and social channels. We need to make sure that we continue to cater to kids and to make sure our millennial audience is happy. We have to continue the gains that we’ve made with our Hispanic fans, which has been significant over the last three years. That journey doesn’t end. And by the way, we have to make sure that we’re nurturing the existing fan base that we’ve had for many, many years. They’re incredibly important.”

PHOTOS: Monster Energy girls at the track

Posted on by Staff Report

Daniel Suarez took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon to provide fans with an update on his injured thumb. Suarez revealed that he has an avulsion fracture in his left thumb, but has been cleared by a doctor to race in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway (1 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“I won’t need surgery and it’s not broke,” Suarez said in a video posted to his Twitter account. “But the tendons and ligaments are pretty bad.”

RELATED: Full schedule for Bristol | Series standings

The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota also modeled the brace he will wear on his left hand for the foreseeable future.

Suarez, caught up in Lap 2 wreck at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday that also involved Alex Bowman, Paul Menard, Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, posted a video after the race that showed his left hand wrapped in a splint. On Tuesday, a doctor gave it a closer look now that the driver is back in North Carolina.

Suarez was able to finish the race, logging 290 (of 334) laps to finish 29th at Texas. He enters the Bristol weekend 26th in the point standings through the series’ first seven races.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2018) — NASCAR® and Monster Energy have signed an agreement that will extend the entitlement sponsorship of NASCAR’s premier series. The extension keeps NASCAR and Monster Energy partners through 2019. As part of the agreement, the brand also continues as the Official Energy Drink of NASCAR.

“NASCAR and Monster Energy enjoyed a productive first year and both parties have benefited significantly from the partnership,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR Chief Operating Officer. “Monster Energy successfully utilized our sport as a platform to elevate its brand and drive business, while introducing NASCAR to new audiences. With this renewal, we look forward to building upon our early success.”

“Over the past year, NASCAR’s passionate and brand loyal fan base embraced Monster Energy and we are excited to be able to continue to build on and strengthen that momentum through 2019,” said Rodney Sacks, Monster Beverage Chairman and CEO. “Racing is in our DNA and extending this partnership further establishes Monster Energy’s prominence in motorsports.”

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Food City 500 on Sunday, April 15 at 2 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Kyle Busch’s victory over Kevin Harvick Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway marked the third time in the season’s opening seven races that these two championship drivers have finished a combination of first and second in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race.

Busch, the 2015 champion, is riding an amazing streak of five consecutive top-three finishes. In addition to Sunday’s victory, he was second to Harvick at Las Vegas and Phoenix and to Clint Bowyer at Martinsville. And he was third at Fontana.

Harvick has five top-five finishes – three wins (at Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix), a fifth-place at Martinsville and the runner-up Sunday in Fort Worth.

RELATED: Kyle holds off Kevin in Texas | Full race results

The two have led a dominating 869-laps of competition between them (Harvick-520, Busch–349).

And yet for Busch, especially with all his near-misses, the victory Sunday was as much relief as it was celebratory. All the good runs were just that, “good,” but the trophy in hand is the golden ticket to the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, where Busch has been a perennial contender.

In fact, Busch’s recent streak of second-place finishes, began where it all ended last year – at the championship finale in Homestead-Miami. So counting that runner-up finish to Martin Truex Jr., Busch has four second-place efforts in the last eight races – 50 percent of the time: so close.

“Certainly being that close, it gets a little old a little faster, you know,” Busch said of his results this season. … “But if you’re finishing fifth or tenth, whatever, you’re just not capable of winning, it certainly will draw out longer, as well, too. But you know you weren’t there yet. Your stuff’s not there yet, or you’re just not getting the job done yet.

“But being as close as you are, that kind of hurts a little bit more, especially that final one, that one that matters, that Homestead one.  That’s probably the one that stings the most. We just got to make sure that we can do the right things that that don’t happen again this year.

Regardless, Busch certainly appreciated the impact of the win, even if that first trophy took a little longer than he expected.

Texas Motor Speedway isn’t necessarily his best venue – even though he is one of only three drivers (Jimmie Johnson, 7, Denny Hamlin, 2) with multiple wins (three) at the 1.5-track.

“Especially here at Texas, this is probably not one of my best racetracks,” said Busch, whose work Sunday tied him with NASCAR Hall Of Famer Bill Elliott with 44 career Cup wins. “We’ve definitely run well here or run better here the last few years.  But, you know, you tend to struggle sometimes at some places, and this one is kind of one of those, especially with a repave. For me, they’re just not my favorites.

RELATED: Busch family celebrates in Texas | Brexton Busch predicts dad’s win

“To be out front and to have the track position when we did, how we did, was really great for us. My guys did an amazing job on pit road all day. We had that close call there with that one restart in one and two with Chase on our outside. From there we were kind of able to work our way back up through traffic, you know, kind of jump a couple guys under the pit stops there.

“Overall I felt like our car was either first or second all day long.”

And that has been the case the entire season, truly. It has produced exciting finishes and established an early season duel between himself and Harvick, who is also off to a fast start. And the reigning champ? Truex won at Auto Club Speedway (California).

One of the bigger questions about the strong start to the season was whether these two could sustain the effort on the 1.5-milers that the reigning champ Truex so dominated last year.

“I think as you look at the 1.5 mile program in general it has been really good for us,” Harvick said Friday before the Texas race. “I think the thing you guys forget up until last year is that we had dominated the 1.5 mile race tracks and have continued to do that at the end of last year and the first part of this year.

“We did switch manufacturers [Chevrolet to Ford] last year and it took some time to get everything situated and where it needed to be. I think once the Playoffs started last year you really saw where the cars were and the increase in performance, especially on the 1.5-mile race tracks. It just took us some time.”

And the results are very apparent. Harvick’s amazing season start, combined with Busch’s, and counting in Truex – who won at California and is second in the standings – has created a high performance championship fight.  A fifth of the way into the 2018 season and these three continue to establish themselves top-shelf, the drivers to beat.

RELATED: Harvick: ‘We’re better than Truex’

This week’s always-trying Bristol Motor Speedway venue will be another interesting test for the three. Busch has six wins there, including last summer. However, he had three consecutive DNFs before that. Harvick has a pair of wins in 34 starts, including the summer of 2016. And Truex is winless at the track, with only one top-10 in his last 11 races there.

“Bristol is going to be fun,” Harvick said. “There is still nothing quite like Bristol and I am looking forward to it.”