Waiting With Bated Breath To See Which Bristol Emerges
New Bristol or old Bristol? That’s the big question on the eve of Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race. The 0.533-mile concrete track was slightly reconfigured following March’s race with banking shaved from the top groove. Whether that returns competition to a bump-and-gouge proposition remains to be seen. “We just have to wait and see when we get there. I think it is going to be exciting either way,” said Greg Biffle.

Three different drivers have won short-track races in 2012: Brad Keselowski (Bristol), Ryan Newman (Martinsville) and Kyle Busch (Richmond). Keselowski goes for his third consecutive Bristol victory, a feat last accomplished by Kurt Busch (2003-04). Kyle Busch owns the best Driver Rating (102.3) and has led the most laps (1,375, 18%) of active drivers at the track. Matt Kenseth finished second to Keselowski in March, is a two-time Bristol winner and has run the most laps among the top 15 (6,169, 82.1%).