From the March, 2007 issue of Stock Car Insider

Kyle Busch Sizzles at Bristol! - SCI March 26th Issue

Next stop on the Nextel Cup Schedule is Martinsville Speedway

Next week NASCAR heads to the shortest track on the Nextel Cup circuit, Martinsville Speedway, for the DirecTV 500. The 1/2 mile paper clip-like track produces some of the best fender bending action on the circuit. With 800 ft straightaways and 12 degree banking, the track has been described as "two drag strips with a turnaround on each end." The 2007 racing season is a special one for Martinsville; it marks the 60th anniversary of racing at one of NASCAR's oldest tracks.

In recent history, both Hendrick Motor sports drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have dominated Martinsville. Each driver averages a top 10 finish with Gordon averaging a 6th place finish while Johnson averages a 7th. Of course, you can through historical results out the window this year. NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow will make its second appearance of the season next week at Martinsville.

Other drivers to note:

Jeff Burton - Average finish of 13th
Tony Stewart - Average finish of 13th
Ricky Rudd - Average finish of 14th
Dale Jarrett - Average finish of 14th

Next Week's Schedule:

Nextel Cup: @ Martinsville Speedway (all times EST)
03/30/07 - 03:45pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Qualifying
03/31/07 - 12:50pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Goody’s Cool Orange 500 Practice
04/01/07 - 02:00pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Goody’s Cool Orange 500

Busch Series off until April 7th at Nashville Superspeedway

Craftsman Truck Series: @ Martinsville Speedway (all times EST)
03/30/07 - 02:20pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 Practice
03/31/07 - 11:10am NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 Qualifying
03/31/07 - 03:00pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250

See complete 2007 NASCAR Schedule

Kyle Busch Captures his 4th Nextel Cup Win at Bristol!

Any race at Bristol Motor Speedway is unpredictable. You can start at the front, and run there all day only to succumb to mechanical problems or, more likely, a Bristol bump as I like to call it.

Just ask Tony Stewart what he thinks of Bristol. After starting up front, and leading a majority of the laps, Stewart suffered fuel line problems that knocked him back to 35th position.

Or, ask Kyle Busch about Bristol's unpredictability. After starting in 20th position and laying low for 3/4 of the race, Busch began to charge his way to the front. While running second to Denny Hamlin in the closing laps, Busch was able to take advantage of back up caused by Jimmie Johnson to pass Hamlin.

Once Busch passed Hamlin, it was all over. After staving off other drivers, including his own teammate Jeff Gordon, over the last two cautions of the race, Busch had only Jeff Burton to beat on the last lap. Coming off of turn 4, Burton eased his nose under the left fender of Busch and pushed him up the track. From there it was a drag race down the front stretch to the checkered flag where Busch won by 1/2 a car length.

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Jeff Gordon Claims the Top Spot in NASCAR

Jeff Gordon accomplished exactly what he set out to do at Bristol Motor Speedway; take the points lead. Barring a catastrophic finish, Gordon was set to take over the lead in the Nextel Cup point standings at the Food City 500. Coming into Bristol, Gordon was 8 points behind semi-retired leader Mark Martin who planned to sit out this race. All Gordon had to do was stay clean and finish in the top ten.

Sounds like an easy assignment for a 4-time champion, right? Wrong! There is nothing easy or predictable about Bristol. And with the debut of the Car of Tomorrow, this race offered an additional twist!

Initially, Gordon hedged the odds in his favor by capturing the poll. But after only 6 laps as the leader, he relinquished the lead to Tony Stewart, and began a backwards slide that almost found him a lap down. Gordon bottomed out in 24th position about a 3rd of the way through the race. Over 15 cautions, the #24 team was able to make the right adjustments on the Impala SS to help send it back to the top.

On the last restart of the race, Jeff Gordon was in second place and looking to take the lead from teammate Kyle Busch. However, Jeff Burton made a daring pass, and Gordon finished the race in 3rd.

Despite not winning, the #24 team piloted by Jeff Gordon appears to be the team to beat this year. Over 5 races, they have 4 top 10's and a 12th place finish at Daytona. Could this be the year that Jeff wins his 5th championship?

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Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway Recap

The one benefit the Car of Tomorrow presented to us fans strapped to our couches for yesterday's Food City 500 was the new camera angles. The new camera locations on the car are unreal and give fans hair raising vantage points that even the drivers themselves can't experience.

Other than that, from a viewer's perspective there were no major differences when compared to previous races at Bristol. There was tons of cautions (15) and lost of beating and banging. Even the opening pace laps offered up action. Reed Sorenson was so anxious to get going that he rear-ended JJ Yeeley before the green flag ever waved.

It always seems the most successful drivers at Bristol are the ones who lay low and make a charge toward the end. Both Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton did just that. After starting 20th & 29th respectively, Kyle and Jeff found themselves racing for the win at the end. Kyle was able to hold off Burton by 1/2 a car length to win the Food City 500.

Other top drivers faired as follows:

Tony Stewart had the best car in the field at Bristol, and led the most laps. However, the former champion suffered a huge setback as he lost fuel pressure in the middle stages of the race. As a result, Stewart finished many laps down and in 35th place. Stewart now sits 12th in points.

Kasey Kahne is slowly starting to climb his way out the monster hole he dug in the first 4 races of the season. A 19th place finish at Bristol has moved him to 34th in the points and allows him to take a provisional should he not qualify at next week's race in Martinsville. Early on, the #9 Dodge looked strong running in the top 3, but plummeted halfway through the race to 33rd.

The Daytona 500 winner, Kevin Harvick, jumped 2 spots in the standings to 5th place with a 4th place finish at Bristol. After struggling the last two races, Harvick was in desperate need of a strong finish to salvage his great start to the season.

Reigning champion, Jimmie Johnson, had a decent race at one of his least favorite tracks. That was until lap 485 where Johnson had a right front go flat. He was able to salvage his car and a 16th place finish. Johnson now sits 3rd in points.

See complete 2007 NASCAR Schedule