NASCAR at Bristol 2015: Race Schedule, Live Stream Info and Drivers to Watch
The Sprint Cup heads to Bristol, Tennessee today as drivers will attempt to navigate one of the most unique tracks on the circuit: the Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bristol had already created headaches for drivers with its tight dimensions and steep banks around the turns. This year, the track organizers may make it even more tense with the addition of SAFER barriers on a few of the walls.
Jeff Gordon is all for increased safety, but he admitted that he needed an adjustment period for the changes.
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"Before you had a little bit of room, I don't know, a foot so that is definitely going to change how we are race there," he said, per Fox Sports' Jay Pennell. "I hope it makes it more exciting, more action is what I'm hoping. Even if it doesn't, I don't care, I want the SAFER barriers inside and outside at all these tracks."
NASCAR fans don't really need any added motivation to tune into a Bristol race, but this year's edition should be thrilling from start to finish.
Below you'll find the schedule and viewing info for the Food City 500, followed by three drivers who deserve special attention, be it for their previous success at Bristol or their need to move up in the standings.
Food City 500 Schedule
When: Sunday, April 19, at 1 p.m. ET
Where: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Watch: Fox
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Drivers to Watch
Greg Biffle
Is this the year Greg Biffle finally breaks his Bristol duck?
The 45-year-old boasts the lowest average finish (11.92) among active drivers at the track—at least among guys with at least five races under their belts—according to DriverAverages.com. However, he's never once tasted victory. His best result was third place in 2005.
Over the years, Biffle has been extremely consistent at Bristol. He regularly finds himself near the head of the pack. His 7,144 laps in the top 15 are the third-most on the Sprint Cup circuit, per the NASCAR stats advance.
Biffle is obviously in his comfort zone at Bristol, but outside factors have continued to combine to keep him from earning a checkered flag. Sooner or later, that has to end.
Jeff Gordon
Gordon is one of three different active drivers to have five wins at Bristol. Historically, he's been very good at the track, boasting an average running position of 9.8 and having spent 80 percent of his total laps at Bristol in the top 15, per the stats advance.
Gordon's previous success might not necessarily translate today, though, given he qualified in the 23rd spot. According to NASCAR.com, only five drivers have won from a starting position outside the top 20. That's a success rate of 4.6 percent.
Sentimentally, though, you can't help but to watch the No. 24 car and hope. This will be one of Gordon's last races at Bristol, and Sprint Cup fans have been offering their thanks at the track, per Courtney Lyle of WBIR in Knoxville, Tennessee:
The 43-year-old is also in need of a win in order to lock himself into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. As things currently stand, he's in, but he can't count on staying there without a victory at some point in the season.
Martin Truex Jr.
Speaking of drivers in need of a win, few have enjoyed a hotter start than Martin Truex Jr. The No. 78 car already has 266 points and seven straight top-10 finishes. Jeff Gluck of USA Today noted how impressive Truex's form has been in 2015:
The one thing missing on Truex's resume this year is a win. He had a runner-up finish in Las Vegas on March 8, but that's the closest he has come to Victory Lane.
The 34-year-old doesn't have a great record at Bristol. In 18 races, he has two top-five finishes and an average finish of 20.28. He'll start out in 16th place, though, which should put him in a good position to move up as the race goes on.
It's by no means time for Truex to begin panicking. There's still a lot of time left in the season to pick up the win that will get him into the Chase.
With that said, he'll be kicking himself if he has little to show from his sizzling last few weeks. He's bound to cool off at some point, and it would be nice if he had a victory in his pocket when he does.
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