NASCAR waited nearly 51 years for its premier series to return to dirt-track racing. Mother Nature ensured Sunday that one more day would be added to the wait time, and striking images of a deluge at Bristol Motor Speedway underscored how that decision was made.
Significant rainfall during a four-day span caused flooding at the Tennessee track and its surrounding areas, pushing a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series doubleheader to Monday starts. The Food City Dirt Race for the NASCAR Cup Series is now set for 4 p.m. ET (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM), right after the twice-delayed Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt (noon ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).
Jerry Caldwell, BMS executive vice president and general manager, said the difficult decision was reached early after consultation with NASCAR officials, weather experts and local authorities. When Beaver Creek, which partially circles the speedway, began to overflow its banks and submerge parking areas and bridges, the priority for hosting a historic stock-car racing event quickly shifted.
“First and foremost, safety,” Caldwell said by phone Sunday afternoon. “We had received an inch of rain on Thursday night and then in the past 24 hours, we’ve gotten about an additional three inches of rain, which has caused some flooding in the area and surrounding properties. We’ve just got to make sure when we welcome people on our property that we’re doing it in a safe way so people can come here and know they’re going to have fun. That’s first and foremost, safety always.”
Another high priority was getting the dirt half-mile in a race-able condition — a challenge considering the rain that had already fallen, plus the pop-up showers forecast for the Tennessee hills Sunday. A flood warning was to be in effect until 7:15 p.m. ET Sunday, which photos and video from the track on social media seemed to verify. Caldwell says that both fans and staff were diverted from the areas most affected.
The weather outlook is far more promising later with overnight clearing leading to a cooler but sunny Monday. Track prep is scheduled to resume at 7:30 a.m. ET Monday. From the facilities side, Caldwell says he’s looking forward to the speedway property and neighboring areas drying out, allowing fans to safely return.
“It’ll be just like normal for us — we’ll gear back up for another race,” Caldwell says. “We’ve got a great team here in Bristol and we’ll make sure we get cleaned up from this because we have some debris on the property and will need to clean up some parking areas and bridges so that we can welcome fans and have our facility beautiful as always. We’ll gear up.
“Obviously we’re working with our great partners at NASCAR and other partners that help operationally here with the race and look forward to welcoming fans. It’s making sure we can get folks parked and that we have proper gate attendants and concession stands and all those things, but we’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
As for the extra day of waiting, that presents another challenge — especially after the weeks and months of build-up and then the surreal sneak preview from Friday’s practice sessions for both series.
“My anticipation is high,” Caldwell says. “I really am looking forward to it. My greatest anticipation is really for the fans. I love that our fans are so excited; they are so hyped up for this event and it has gotten so much attention and I know it’s going to be a great show tomorrow. Can’t wait for the sport as a whole to experience that. I wish it had been today, but I know we’re going to have a beautiful day tomorrow and still be able to get this in.”
Denny Hamlin has made a significant move up odds boards ahead of the Food City Dirt Race since opening betting numbers were posted last week. Hamlin, who was third fastest in Friday’s second practice session and fourth in the first session, saw his odds to win the race tighten to 14/1 at BetMGM from a 25/1 opener. A similar adjustment was made at SuperBook USA, which moved the price on the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Toyota from 30/1 to 16/1.
With the Cup Series racing on the dirt for the first time since 1970, the expectation was for oddsmakers to move their numbers after seeing how drivers performed on the unfamiliar Bristol surface at practice on Friday, as well as in the four qualifying races and the Camping World Trucks race on Saturday. Saturday’s events were rained out, however, leaving plenty of guesswork for bookmakers and bettors.
There has been some inconsistency in terms of how books have adjusted their odds over these past few days. Martin Truex Jr., for example, moved in different directions at BetMGM and the SuperBook, lengthened from 25/1 to 30/1 at the former and shortened from 30/1 to 14/1 at the latter, after a solid sixth-place showing in the second practice session Friday.
Similarly, Alex Bowman, who was fastest in Friday’s first practice session and second in the second session, was shortened from 25/1 to 18/1 at the SuperBook but stretched from 20/1 to 25/1 at BetMGM. Chase Elliott, who ran sixth and seventh at practice, went from 11/1 to 14/1 at BetMGM and from 20/1 to 16/1 at the SuperBook.
While experienced dirt racer Kyle Larson will start in the back of the 39-car field because his No. 5 Hendrick team is changing engines, he remains the clear favorite to win, listed at +250 at BetMGM. The SuperBook lengthened Larson’s odds to +350, still the shortest price on the board.
NASCAR’s decision to schedule a Cup race on the dirt has created plenty of uncertainty around the betting market, as no one is sure how these teams will perform on the surface. Mike Marlar and Stewart Friesen, both making their Cup debuts, were initially given respect by oddsmakers, largely due to the drivers’ past performances on dirt. But neither driver impressed in Friday’s practice, and both have seen their odds grow longer.
Still, while adjusted from 12/1 to 14/1 at BetMGM, Friesen is behind just four drivers on the book’s odds board.
SuperBook oddsmaker Ed Salmons told NASCAR.com last week that while he was impressed with Marlar’s performance in the 2019 Trucks race on the Eldora Speedway dirt, he is skeptical about the No. 66 MBM Motorsports equipment Marlar is in this week. That skepticism proved justified with Marlar running near the back of both practice sessions, and Salmons adjusted his numbers accordingly.
Marlar’s odds to win doubled from 30/1 to 60/1 at the SuperBook, and in a matchup prop against Ryan Newman, Marlar went from a -135 favorite (bet $135 to win $100) to a +130 underdog (bet $100 to win $130). That large a price adjustment is rare and exemplifies the weight some bookmakers are giving to the small sample provided by Friday’s practice.
We stress consistently in this space the importance of line shopping, the process of checking odds across various sportsbooks to find the best possible price for your wagers. The concept is exemplified this week with the Ryan Blaney vs. Kyle Busch matchup prop. On Saturday at the SuperBook, Busch was priced as the +130 underdog in the prop; at DraftKings, Blaney is a -121 favorite. This creates a potential can’t-lose situation for bettors. If you bet $100 to win $130 on Busch, and $121 to win $100 on Blaney, you would cash $9 if Busch finishes ahead of Blaney and break even if Blaney wins the prop. In betting parlance, this is known as a “scalp”.
And with four legal sports betting operations in Tennessee, NASCAR fans who live in the state or are visiting for the Bristol race have ample opportunity to line shop.
Marcus DiNitto is a writer and editor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been covering sports for nearly two-and-a-half decades and sports betting for more than 10 years. His first NASCAR betting experience was in 1995 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he went 0-for-3 on his matchup picks. Read his articles and follow him on Twitter; do not bet his picks.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – The BMR Drivers Academy – a NASCAR Driver Development Program – opened its 2021 campaign on Friday and Saturday at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. with Cole Moore going two-for-two with wins on both nights of competition.
Moore led Wisconsin’s Gabe Sommers for a narrow victory in Friday’s opening race before a more convincing win in round two ahead of Alabama’s Jolynn Wilkinson.
Wilkinson set the fast-time on Saturday with a 14.075 second lap to earn the pole position for the main event. Both Friday and Saturday, Moore used the outside line to his advantage to take the top position. Wilkinson never relinquished second however, while Michigan’s Brandon Varney successfully nabbed third from Sommers with Canadian Amber Balcaen finishing fifth.
“The guys worked real hard today and my crew chief Mario (Isola) gave me a really good car,” Moore said. “Shout out to JoJo. She was killing it on those restarts. It was a good race.”
Wilkinson made an impression with her showing on Saturday evening.
“It feels really good. This is my dream and I can’t think Bill McAnally enough for this opportunity,” Wilkinson said. “I learned a lot.”
Cautions flew on lap 15 and lap 34. Moore led all 50-laps of competition while Sommers was involved in the heaviest battling through the field.
The BMR Drivers Academy continues April 9-10 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. with both races available to be viewed live on SPEED SPORT TV and www.AllAmericanSpeedway.TV
2021 BMR Drivers Academy Schedule
March 26-27 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA)
April 9-10 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) April 23-24 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) April 30-May 1 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA)
May 14-15 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) May 17-18 Thunderhill Raceway (Willows, CA) May 29-30 Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, CA)
June 11-12 Irwindale Speedway (Irwindale, CA) June 25-26 Kern County Raceway Park (Bakersfield, CA)
July 9-10 Kern County Raceway Park (Bakersfield, CA) July 23-24 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA)
August 13-14 Irwindale Speedway (Irwindale, CA) August 28-29 Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, CA)
September 17-18 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) September 24-25 Kern County Raceway Park (Bakersfield, CA)
With heavy rain in the area and safety concerns with Sullivan County (Tenn.) under a flood warning, NASCAR officials made the call to postpone the inaugural Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway just before noon ET on Sunday, pushing the race a day back to Monday, March 29.
The 250-lap feature, initially slated for a 3:30 p.m. ET start on Sunday afternoon will now move to Monday at 4 p.m. ET on FOX with coverage also on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The announcement follows the cancellation of the majority of Saturday night’s activities in which both the Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series fields were to set their lineups by qualifying races, followed by the Truck Series feature race. The Truck Series race, in which several Cup stars are entered, was initially rescheduled to 9 p.m. ET on Sunday night. It will now be run Monday at noon ET on FS1 with coverage also on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Both series set the starting lineups according to the inclement weather policies in the NASCAR Rule Book. Kyle Larson will start from the pole position in the Cup Series event, but he is expected to drop to the rear after changing his engine following Friday’s final practice. John Hunter Nemechek is set to start first in the Camping World Trucks.z
The Cup Series hasn’t raced on dirt since 1970, when Richard Petty beat runner-up Neil Castles by two laps at North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
INFO FOR TICKETHOLDERS
Parking lots will open at 10 a.m. ET and spectator gates will open at 11 a.m. ET. Truck race ticketholders will be allowed to stay for the Cup race pending potential relocation for social distancing. The Speedway Motorsports weather guarantee is in effect for ticketholders who cannot attend either race.
Kyle Larson claimed the pole for Monday’s Food City Dirt Race (4 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the NASCAR Cup Series, taking the No. 1 starting position after Saturday’s qualifying races were rained out at Bristol Motor Speedway. Sunday’s race was moved back to Monday due to flooding and safety concerns after heavy rains hit the area once again.
Larson was awarded the top spot based on performance metrics, using the formula that has set the starting lineups in other races where practice and qualifying were not held. His No. 5 Chevrolet, however, is expected to drop to the rear of the 39-car field after his Hendrick Motorsports crew changed engines after Friday’s final practice.
Four 15-lap qualifying races were scheduled for Saturday to set the starting lineup. Those were to include incentives for drivers who improved their positions.
Cup Series points leader Denny Hamlin has the second starting spot in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Ryan Blaney — last weekend’s winner at Atlanta Motor Speedway — will start third in the Team Penske No. 12 Ford. Two more Gibbs drivers round out the top five, with Kyle Busch fourth and Martin Truex Jr. fifth.
Camping World Trucks points leader John Hunter Nemechek is set to start from the pole position for the second consecutive weekend in the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 4 Toyota. He’ll have Austin Hill’s No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota starting second beside him in Monday’s Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt (noon ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), which was postponed twice from its original Saturday night start.
OK, Matt just wants more occasions to say “Oh no, my shirt is so dirty … ” and then rip it off Hulk-Hogan style in front of everyone else, BUT cool to know there’s such universal love for the Bristol dirt.
I didn’t know how much I missed watching practice. @NASCAR
Oscar’s like “I really appreciate the goggles but did you happen to remember I spend several hours every day digging and burying your belongings in the yard?”
William can iRace, surf the web, stream TV shows and movies, and order food from this thing. There is literally no reason to ever leave it. I suppose to shower, but who really needs to do that if you’re like William and have enough scented candles burning all the time that will mask the funk.
Social Media Superstar Of The Week – Alex Bowman
During the Pro Invitational Event at Bristol, Alex Bowman once again showed why he’s a must-follow during iRacing events when he probably should be driving and not tweeting but whatever.
Computers never update when it’s convenient. They wait until you have a paper due in an hour, the new Jordans are about to go on sale, and when your heat race begins in five minutes.
Ok so tweeting and iRacing is tough… decided ig stories are gonna be the way to go this year so y’all go check that out. I already about got decapitated by my @allyracing backdrop.
Don’t change them. Always have a ready-to-use excuse if things go haywire. In this case, dead batteries. Works for everything from wrecking another guy on track to blocking the Suez Canal for three days with your boat.
Thank you for the honesty and the entertainment, Alex. That’s why you’re the Social Media Superstar of the week. Also, install any updates well before the next Pro Invitational Series race.
Both the Camping World Truck and NASCAR Cup Series were scheduled to set their main-event lineups through four 15-lap qualifying races apiece. But those preliminaries were washed out, and the starting lineups for both series will be set by performance metrics.
The Camping World Truck Series Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt was rescheduled from a Saturday night start to approximately a 9 p.m. ET green flag Sunday (FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), after Cup Series’ inaugural Food City Dirt Race, the seventh points-paying event of the Cup season. That event is slated for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX, PRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio).
Both series set the starting lineups according to the inclement weather policies in the NASCAR Rule Book. Kyle Larson will start from the pole position in the Cup Series event, but he is expected to drop to the rear after changing his engine following Friday’s final practice. John Hunter Nemechek is set to start first in the Camping World Trucks.
The Trucks attempted to start the first qualifying race shortly after 5:30 p.m. ET, but visibility issues arose after the windshields and grilles quickly collected mud due to damp track conditions. The first of four qualifying races was red-flagged on Lap 2.
NASCAR announced on Saturday afternoon a handful of competition adjustments for Monday’s NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Dirt Race (4 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) following the sanctioning body’s discoveries from Friday’s opening practice sessions on the dirt surface. The race was moved from Sunday to Monday due to flooding and safety concerns after heavy rain again hit the area.
Working in collaboration with drivers, teams, Bristol Motor Speedway and Goodyear, NASCAR will extend the Stage 1 and Stage 2 distances, add two competition cautions and increase tire allotment. The result: there are now important additional opportunities to prep the track during the competition cautions, and more opportunities for teams to change tires — all of which should result in better racing for the first NASCAR Cup Series race on dirt in 50 years.
The tweaks:
• Stages: Stage 1 will now end on Lap 100 (previously Lap 75) and Stage 2 will now end on Lap 200 (previously Lap 150). The race will still consist of 250 laps.
• Competition cautions: There will be competition cautions on Laps 50 and Lap 150 — the exact midway point of Stage 1 and Stage 2. That will allow NASCAR two additional opportunities for track prep and also allows teams the chance to pit. Laps will not count once NASCAR sends the free pass car around.
• Goodyear tires: Each team will receive an additional set of tires, for a total of six (one set used in qualifying race and five stickers). Higher-than-anticipated tire wear was prevalent during Friday’s practice, necessitating the adjustment.
Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (⏰ 4 p.m. ET | 📺 FOX | 📻 PRN, SiriusXM)
Everything you need to know for Monday’s race, the seventh points-paying NASCAR Cup Series event of the 2021 season.
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway, a half-mile oval covered in dirt located in Bristol, Tennessee Green flag: 4:18 p.m. ET TV/Radio: FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Forecast: Sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind around 5 mph, according to NOAA.gov National anthem: Randy Houser Grand marshal: Bristol Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell and Bristol Motor Speedway team members Race Distance: 250 laps, 125 miles Stages: 100 | 200 | 250; Competition cautions at Lap 50 and Lap 150 | Competition changes made for Bristol Pit-road speed: 30 mph Caution car speed: 35 mph Bristol 101: Get the full lowdown for Sunday
Starting lineup: See the full lineup | Check out every car in Sunday’s race
Cars to the rear: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Kyle Larson (engine change)
Pit stall assignments: See who is pitting where
At-track sights: Take in the scenes of the racing on dirtTwitter: @BMSupdates
Five to watch
Here are five big story lines we’ll be following.
1. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have won the last five Chili Bowls — the premier midget race in the United States — and are regarded as the top two dirt racers in the Cup Series today. Both have Eldora wins from when that track was on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule and both are overwhelming favorites in Monday’s race. Larson is fresh off a dominating performance at Atlanta that saw him lose the lead late to eventual winner Ryan Blaney but will have to come from the back of the field after his team changed engines in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet following final practice. Will we get a Larson-Bell duel on the dirt in the closing laps at Bristol? That would be something to behold.
2. Blaney’s win at Atlanta made it six winners in six races to open the season. Will a wild-card race such as Bristol on dirt make it seven-for-seven with Cup regulars with dirt backgrounds like Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe or Alex Bowman grabbing the victory, two former Eldora winners in Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace could find their way to a triumph in Thunder Valley or will a dirt specialist making their Cup debut have a magical day? And that doesn’t take into account the drivers at or near the top of the standings … Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott and more who have yet to win.
3. Speaking of dirt specialists making their Cup debut, there are four of them in this race: Chris Windom, Stewart Friesen, Mike Marlar and Shane Golobic. Windom is running for the No. 15 Chevrolet Rick Ware Racing and is one of seven drivers to win the USAC Triple Crown. Marlar will run the No. 66 Motorsports Business Management Toyota and is a two-time Knoxville Nationals winner and the 2018 World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion. Friesen will drive the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet and has been a truck regular for several seasons. He won at Eldora in 2019, not to mention that he cut his teeth racing on dirt tracks around the country. Golobic will pilot the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford and finished second in the USAC National Midget Series in 2017.
4. For all we’ve said about Cup drivers with dirt backgrounds and dirt specialists, does a driver who isn’t necessarily known as a dirt devil have a good chance to win Monday? A host of drivers — Kyle Busch, Logano, Elliott, Corey LaJoie, Chris Buescher and others — tuned up in dirt races over the past few weeks. And could anything be learned from the Pro Invitational Series race won by William Byron?
5. The Cup Series has not run a race on dirt since 1970, so expect the unexpected. There are some big differences at play regarding rules and pit-road regulations for this race. There will be no live green-flag pit stops. Teams will execute non-competitive pit stops, changing tires and adding fuel as needed at stage breaks. Exceptions will be made for vehicles involved in incidents. Additionally, teams are not required to pit during stage breaks. Those that elect to stay on the track during stage intermissions will line up ahead of the cars/trucks that pit on the ensuing restart. The choose rule will not be in effect for this race. There will also be competition cautions at Laps 50 and 150.
Race-day staples
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles. •Power Rankings: Larson looks like a title favorite. | See the ranks •Paint Scheme Preview: Check out the schemes dancing on the dirt | See the schemes •Fantasy Fastlane: See which drivers to use, avoid | Full Fantasy advice | Set your roster •Preview Show: Jonathan Merryman and Alex Weaver preview the race | Watch the show
Dishing on the dirt
Everything you could want to know about the Cup Series dirt history and Bristol’s evolution to dirt for this race •Details in the dirt: 23,000 cubic yards. That’s how much dirt was added to Bristol. | Learn about the transformation •What an evolution: See how the track took shape over the past months | See the photos • How to set up for the dirt: NBC Sports’ Steve Letarte examines what goes into prepping for a race like this | Letarte’s lowdown
•FAQ about dirt racing: Learn the terminology and lingo as well as race procedures for Sunday | FAQ, glossary for Sunday •Storied past: NASCAR’s beginnings started in dirt. See photos from the past come to life. | Past in photos
• Returning to roots: The last Cup race on dirt was in 1970. Get more details on the sport’s early days. | Learn the history
Get in on the action
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy. • Betting odds for today’s race | See the odds • Who’s a dark horse bet to consider? | BetMGM’s preview • Dirt race creates challenge for bookmakers, bettors | Full betting preview • Take a shot at winning cash prizes with the free-to-play Jackpot Races app | Hit the jackpot • Full guide to 2021 NASCAR Fantasy Live game | Get the FAQ
Track history
Every track has a story to tell. Here’s what we’ve seen go down at Bristol Motor Speedway in the past. •Rattling the cage: Memorable moments at Bristol | See the moments •Spring savants: All-time spring race track winners | See the list •Take me to your leader: Top 10 lap leaders at Bristol | See the list
Fast facts
Hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights. • No one in the field was born the last time there was a Cup Series dirt race • Lee Petty is the career Cup wins leader on dirt tracks with 42 wins • Each manufacturer has won twice in the first six races • No drivers finished top 10 in all the races this season • Kyle Larson has run the most laps in the top 10 this season (1,195 to 1,190 for Denny Hamlin)
Catch the pack
Read up on all the headlines from the week leading up to Sunday’s race. • Bowman, Blaney top practice sessions while Larson has to change engine| Recap the practices | Spin cycle: See the practice spins
• Which driver with a dirt background is the best pick for Bristol? | Read our debate
• Which driver not known for a dirt background is the best pick for Bristol?| See our selections
• Unpredictable challenges await Sunday’s field | Marathon for dirt drivers
• Could Brad Keselowski be on the move for 2021? Not if Roger Penske can help it. | Captain chimes in
• With a street course coming to the Pro Invitational Series, could the Cup Series be on the horizon? | ‘Everything is on the table’ • Backseat Drivers: Kyle Petty says ‘don’t see Noah did anything wrong’ in Xfinity Series brouhaha with Daniel Hemric. | Hear the debate • Cup cars were on track for a test at Nashville Superspeedway ahead of the June race. | Get a first look
Say what?
Notable quotes from the stars of the sport heading into Monday’s race. For more on what drivers are saying, check out this quote book. “It’s definitely a race that I had circled on the calendar whenever we went into the 2021 season and it still is. I think I’ve got a great opportunity to win another race this weekend at Bristol so we’re going to do everything we can to win another race. It’s nice not having to rely on this and be like, ‘Man, this is our only way to the Playoffs.’ ” — Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
“Even me being a dirt racer, I really don’t know what to expect. These (NASCAR Cup Series) cars are way different than what I’m used to racing on dirt. They are way heavier with a lot less power than I’m used to. I think the only thing that transfers from my previous dirt experience to this weekend is how to read the surface and how it changes and evolves throughout the weekend and the race. I may be able to adapt to that quicker than a pavement racer.” — Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“It’s actually really nice that Alex (Bowman) has some dirt experience racing in the midgets and his love for it. I think his background and experience really brings an added bonus to not only myself, but the rest of the race team. I grew up having a little bit of dirt experience, but most of my stuff was on asphalt.” — Greg Ives, crew chief for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
“The track is kind of coming up and just crazy big divots. It’s definitely not smooth. It’s rough, but you just run through things that you think will work and there wasn’t really much lane changing going on. Larson and Reddick could kind of run the top for a little while and then it kind of went away after a handful of minutes, but just seeing how straight and smooth you can be and trying to keep tires on it. We’re seeing a lot of tires getting corded pretty quickly, especially right-rears, even right-fronts started to go pretty quick, so that’s something that’s gonna come into play is saving your tires when the track is probably gonna be like this come race time.” — Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford
The following article is brought to you by BetMGM.
Talk about getting back to your roots — we present the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Monday at 4 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). NASCAR’s history is loaded with dirt-race lore. In the early days of racing, drivers competed on whatever surface they could find.
Most of the time in those early years, that surface was dirt. Only years later did asphalt (or in some cases, concrete) become the predominant choice. In fact, while lower series have done it recently, the last dirt-track race in the NASCAR Cup Series happened in 1970. Since it’s been so long, this weekend’s version will be an interesting race to bet NASCAR online, but we’ll give you some clues on who has flourished on dirt in lower divisions of racing.
For the record, the all-time winningest driver — Richard Petty — captured the checkered flag at the last one in 1970. It was contested at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.
On Monday, we’ll get to see a throwback race at one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ favorite venues — Bristol Motor Speedway in the hills of Tennessee. The speedway has covered its concrete track with dirt for this weekend’s foray into yesteryear.
The key to racing on dirt is to control the car’s natural pull to the outside of a slick surface, while keeping its tires underneath the machine. It’s a balance that takes serious skill and experience. Some drivers came from that background and have mastered it, and some haven’t.
It’s similar to road courses, where a road-course ringer might pop up two or three times a year out of nowhere and be a legitimate threat to win. With a dirt track? If you’re following the NASCAR odds this week, you’ll see some new names, which we’ll discuss below.
THE FAVORITE
Kyle Larson (+250)
Kyle Larson is like a Zen master of dirt-track racing. Aside from already being one of the more dominant NASCAR Cup Series wheelers on all track genres, he’s been one of the frontrunners in lower-series racing when it comes to the dirt. Larson ran 97 non-NASCAR races on dirt in 2020. He won 46 of them.
Does that help one understand why he’s perched atop the NASCAR betting lines this weekend?
To be honest? Larson has long been known as a guy who wanted to slip away mid-week and run dirt races all over the country. He’s a natural, and there’s really no question why he’s the frontrunner this weekend.
OTHERS: Keep an eye on up-and-comer Christopher Bell (+550). Are you sick of us mentioning this guy, week in and week out? He truly is one to watch this upcoming weekend, as he can spin it. He has a history of success at dirt tracks.
THE DARK HORSE THREAT
Austin Dillon (+1000)
Who are we kidding? Dillon seems due for a race victory, and this might just be the place to do it. He’s been close this year, taking third at the Daytona 500 and sixth last weekend in Atlanta. He’s 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings so far, right on the cusp of being one of the elites.
As an accomplished dirt-race guy, getting his fourth career win on this track would be a massive boost to trying to get him into the top 10 in the series. He did win a past truck race at Eldora’s dirt-track course, and he has the firepower under the hood to do big things this weekend. Watch out.
OTHERS: Tyler Reddick (+1600) has a solid dirt-racing background and is a guy to keep an eye on in the No. 8 BetMGM car for Richard Childress Racing. Chase Briscoe (+1000) is another up-and-coming star who has the same kind of background as Reddick.
THE INTRIGUING LONG SHOT
Stewart Friesen (+1400)
Honestly? Stewart Friesen may not be the underdog or potential Cinderella story one might think. He has 97 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and one of his two career wins — and three of his top-five finishes — have come at Eldora Speedway in Ohio, a well-known dirt track.
Friesen, a native Canadian, has been pretty strong in the series overall, with top 10 finishes in 51 of his 97 starts. Not only is he a good dirt-track racer, he’s a pretty effective racer in general.
OTHERS: When it comes to some of the other new faces this weekend, Mike Marlar (+3000), Chris Windom (+4000), and Shane Golobic (+5000) are interesting candidates because they are dirt-track ringers. This weekend, all three join Friesen in their first career NASCAR Cup Series starts. Golobic races mostly in sprint cars and has more than 80 feature wins to his name.
Windom is a master of the USAC Midget circuit. Marlar has one Xfinity Series race on his resume and has had a cup of coffee with the Camping World Truck Series. He took fourth at the Eldora Speedway dirt-track race in 2019.
