Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt in Bristol, Tennessee going into the Food City Dirt Race on Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
2023 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoff Outlook Following Race No. 7RankDriversPointsStartsWinsStagesPlayoff PtsPoints From Cutoff1William Byron22872515In On Wins2Kyle Larson22271163Joey Logano22271164Kyle Busch21571055Tyler Reddick18771166Ricky Stenhouse Jr.16171057Alex Bowman2637000Pts Leader (+105)8Ross Chastain25970331019Christopher Bell22970007110Kevin Harvick22770006911Martin Truex Jr.19870004012Brad Keselowski19670113813Ryan Blaney18870003014Denny Hamlin18870113015Austin Cindric17570111716Chris Buescher1647000617Daniel Suarez1587000-618Michael McDowell1567000-819Corey LaJoie1557000-920Ty Gibbs #1477000-1721Chase Briscoe1227000-4222Bubba Wallace1187000-4623Todd Gilliland1177000-4724AJ Allmendinger1137000-5125Erik Jones1057000-5926Austin Dillon1057000-5927Aric Almirola947000-7028Ryan Preece887000-7629Noah Gragson #877000-7730Harrison Burton847000-8031Cody Ware657000-9932Ty Dillon377000-12733Justin Haley1700-10-163Note: Must compete in every race of the season to be eligible for the Playoffs or be granted a waiver by NASCAR.
BRISTOL DIRT-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
(Below are Loop Data stats from 2005-Present)
Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
One top 10Average Finish of 20.500, 13th-bestAverage Running Position of 17.131, 20th-bestDriver Rating of 95.0, eighth-best22 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best296 Laps in the Top 15 (58.8%), 11th-most67 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford)
One top five, two top 10sAverage Finish of 6.500, third-bestAverage Running Position of 10.638, fourth-bestDriver Rating of 95.1, seventh-best8 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best392 Laps in the Top 15 (77.9%), fifth-most85 Quality Passes, series-most
Alex Bowman (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
One top 10Average Finish of 14.000, eighth-bestAverage Running Position of 14.165, 10th-bestDriver Rating of 86.2, 13th-best6 Fastest Laps Run, 14th-best329 Laps in the Top 15 (65.4%), ninth-most61 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Kyle Busch (No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
One win, one top five, one top 10Average Finish of 9.000, fifth-bestAverage Running Position of 12.892, seventh-bestDriver Rating of 104.4, third-best19 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best305 Laps in the Top 15 (60.6%), 10th-most66 Quality Passes, seventh-most
William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
One top 10Average Finish of 12.000, seventh-bestAverage Running Position of 10.798, fifth-bestDriver Rating of 87.5, 11th-best21 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best335 Laps in the Top 15 (66.6%), seventh-most49 Quality Passes, 16th-most
Justin Haley (No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet)
One top 15Average Finish of 14.000, ninth-bestAverage Running Position of 13.748, ninth-bestDriver Rating of 87.0, 12th-bestZero Fastest Laps Run155 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0%), 22nd-most50 Quality Passes, 15th-most
Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
One top five, one top 10Average Finish of 16.500, 11th-bestAverage Running Position of 16.905, 19th-bestDriver Rating of 97.6, fifth-best33 Fastest Laps Run, second-best245 Laps in the Top 15 (48.7%), 15th-most46 Quality Passes, 17th-most
Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)
One win, two top fives, two top 10sAverage Finish of 2.000, series-bestAverage Running Position of 5.225, series-bestDriver Rating of 122.4, series-best24 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best503 Laps in the Top 15 (100.0%), series-most60 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)
One top five, two top 10sAverage Finish of 4.500, second-bestAverage Running Position of 8.795, second-bestDriver Rating of 111.0, second-best28 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best450 Laps in the Top 15 (89.5%), second-most67 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Ricky Stenhouse Jr (No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet)
One top five, one top 10Average Finish of 15.500, 10th-bestAverage Running Position of 14.795, 13th-bestDriver Rating of 89.6, 10th-best17 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best334 Laps in the Top 15 (66.4%), eighth-most80 Quality Passes, third-most
Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet)
One top five, one top 10Average Finish of 8.000, fourth-bestAverage Running Position of 9.248, third-bestDriver Rating of 101.2, fourth-best28 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best351 Laps in the Top 15 (69.8%), sixth-most37 Quality Passes, 19th-most
Martin Truex Jr (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
One top 20Average Finish of 20.000, 12th-bestAverage Running Position of 14.520, 11th-bestDriver Rating of 90.3, ninth-best40 Fastest Laps Run, series-best252 Laps in the Top 15 (50.1%), 14th-most10 Quality Passes, 26th-most
NASCAR Cup Series 2023 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt
DriverRacesPolesWinsTop FivesTop 10sDNFsAverage FinishDriver Rating1Alex Bowman2000101486.22Ross Chastain2000023444.83Christopher Bell20001120.595.04William Byron2000101287.55Kevin Harvick20000124.551.26Kyle Larson20011016.597.67Joey Logano2012202122.48Kyle Busch2011109104.49Martin Truex Jr2000002090.310Brad Keselowski2000001177.611Ryan Blaney2001206.595.112Denny Hamlin2001111976.713Tyler Reddick2001204.5111.014Austin Cindric1000001658.215Chris Buescher20000014.580.0
* — Based on two races at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt (2021-2022).
Bristol Motor Speedway Track Data
Season Race: 8 of 36 (04-09-23)
Track Size: 0.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5-9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4-8 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 650 feet
Backstretch Length: 650 feet
Race Length: 250 laps / 125 miles
Stages 1 & 2 Length: 75 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 100 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Qualifying & Race Records
Bristol Dirt Qualifying Record:
Cole Custer started from the pole – finished second in Qualifying Race 1 and gained seven positions.
2022 Bristol Dirt Pole Winner
Cole Custer started from the pole – finished second in Qualifying Race 1 and gained seven positions.
2021 Bristol Dirt Pole Winner
Qualifying was cancelled due to weather — Metric Qualifying set the starting lineups — Kyle Larson started from first.
Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track Race Record:
Joey Logano, Ford, 46.313 mph, (2:43:53), March 29, 2021
2022 Bristol Dirt Race Winner
Kyle Busch, Toyota, 34.973 mph, (3:34:27), April 17, 2022
2021 Bristol Dirt Race Winner
Joey Logano, Ford, 46.313 mph, (2:43:53), March 29, 2021
Bristol Motor Speedway Stats & Tidbits
HISTORY
Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was on July 30, 1961; Jack Smith won the event (with relief from Johnny Allen).All of the NASCAR Cup Series races on the paved oval have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps each.In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992.The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May, 1996.The track was resurfaced between races in 2007, and the turns were ground down in 2012 to eliminate part of the progressive banking.The 2020 season marked the first time that Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series Open and All-Star Race as well as a Playoff race.In 2021, the track was covered with 23,000 cubic yards of dirt to create the .5-mile Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track.In 2021, the track hosted the first NASCAR Cup Series race on dirt since September 30, 1970 (North Carolina State Fairgrounds).The inaugural event at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, the 2021 Food City Dirt Race, was won by Team Penske driver Joey Logano (Ford).This weekend marks the third NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt (2021-2023).
STARTS
A total of 46 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt; 29 drivers have competed in more than one.Five drivers have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt: Drivers That Made First Start At Bristol DirtDateJosh WilliamsSunday, April 17, 2022Chris WindomMonday, March 29, 2021Mike MarlarMonday, March 29, 2021Shane GolobicMonday, March 29, 2021Stewart FriesenMonday, March 29, 2021
Of the four drivers making their first career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, Stewart Friesen had the best finish with a 23rd-place.Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt with a 3.0 in two starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Bristol Dirt
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRaces1Kyle Larson3.00022Alex Bowman7.50023Kyle Busch7.50024Christopher Bell8.50025Joey Logano10.00026Austin Dillon10.50027Cole Custer11.00028Chris Buescher13.00029William Byron13.500210Ryan Blaney14.0002
POLES
Busch Light Pole Qualifying was cancelled due to weather for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt (2021). Metric Qualifying set the field and as a result Hendrick Motorsports Kyle Larson started from first; he finished 29th.Last season, Starting position was determined by Qualifying Race Result and Passing Points – Cole Custer won the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Dirt race after finishing second in the Qualifying Race #1 and gaining seven positions in the event.Youngest & Oldest Cup Series Bristol Dirt Pole winner: Cole Custer (April 17, 2022 — 24 years, 2 months, 25 days).
QUALIFYING RACES
Below are the winners of the Qualifying Races from 2022, the 2021 Qualifying Races were cancelled due to inclement weather:2022RaceQualifying Race WinnersQualifying Race 1Tyler ReddickQualifying Race 2Christopher BellQualifying Race 3Justin HaleyQualifying Race 4Ty Dillon
WINS
Two drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt:
o Team Penske‘s driver Joey Logano won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt in 2021.
o Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Kyle Busch won the second NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt in 2022.
Youngest Cup Series Bristol Dirt winner: Joey Logano (March 29, 2021 — 30 years, 10 months, 5 days).Oldest Cup Series Bristol Dirt winner: Kyle Busch (April 17, 2022 — 36 years, 11 months, 15 days).Two organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track
o Team Penske — Joey Logano (2021)
o Joe Gibbs Racing — Kyle Busch (2022)
Two manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt – Ford (2021) and Toyota (2022).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS STATS
Runner-Up Finishes:
Two drivers have posted runner-up finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Dirt – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2021) and Tyler Reddick (2022).
Top-Five Finishes:
A total of nine different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, led by Joey Logano with two top fives, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick.
Top-10 Finishes:
A total of 16 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, led by Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney with two each, and followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman, William Byron, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Ty Dillon.
LAP LEADERS
A total of eight different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt.RankBristol Dirt Lap LeadersRacesLedCompleted% Led1Martin Truex Jr212650325%2Daniel Suárez212250324%3Tyler Reddick29950320%4Joey Logano26150312%5Chase Briscoe25950212%6Kyle Larson2274985%7Kyle Busch285032%8Denny Hamlin213440%
Joe Gibbs Racing‘s driver Martin Truex Jr. leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt with 126 laps led (25% of his laps completed).The most laps led by the winner in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt is 61 laps led by Joey Logano on March 29, 2021 — he won the event starting from the 10th position.The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt by a driver that did not win the event was 126 laps led by Martin Truex Jr. who started fifth and finished 19th on March 29, 2021.The fewest laps led by the winner in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt is one lap led (the final lap) by Kyle Busch on April 17, 2022 — he won the event starting from the 11th position.
TRACK/EVENT SPECIFIC STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring (1993) the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt is the April 17, 2022 race won by Kyle Busch with a margin of victory of 0.331 second over Tyler Reddick.DateMargin of VictoryRace WinnerRunner-UpMonday, March 29, 20210.554Joey LoganoRicky Stenhouse Jr.Sunday, April 17, 20220.331Kyle BuschTyler ReddickQualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track once (2021).The inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt was scheduled for 250 laps but went to overtime adding an additional three laps. The race concluded at 253 laps completed.Previous Bristol Dirt RacesLast RaceMost/LargestFewest/SmallestCars:3640 (04/09/2023)36 (04/17/2022)Lead Changes:66 (04/17/2022)5 (03/29/2021)Leaders:55 – 2 Times (04/17/2022)5 – 2 Times (04/17/2022)Cautions:1414 (04/17/2022)10 (03/29/2021)Caution Laps:8282 (04/17/2022)39 (03/29/2021)Lead Lap Finish:2626 (04/17/2022)19 (03/29/2021)Running at Finish:2931 (03/29/2021)29 (04/17/2022)Laps Led (Winner):161 (03/29/2021)1 (04/17/2022)Margin of Victory*:0.330.554 (03/29/2021)0.33 (04/17/2022)* Since 1993 (advent of digital timing and scoring); does not include races completed under caution
NASCAR IN TENNESSEE
A total of 368 NASCAR national series races among nine tracks have been held in the state of Tennessee.Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedFirst YearBristol Motor SpeedwayBristol12279252261961Bristol Motor Speedway DirtBristol20242021Nashville SuperspeedwayNashville22315402001Chattanooga International RacewayChattanooga20021962Kingsport SpeedwayKingsport30031968Memphis Motorsports ParkMemphis01112231998Nashville SpeedwayLebanon4295561958Smokey Mountain RacewayMaryville1200121965Tennessee-Carolina SpeedwayNewport20021956Totals18712259368The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in Tennessee was at Tennessee-Carolina Speedway on October 7, 1956 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts.
TENNESSEE DRIVERS IN NASCAR
A total of 109 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Tennessee.15 drivers from Tennessee have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series; totaling 155 wins across all three series.
Tennessee Drivers In NASCAR with Wins
DriverCupXfinityTruckCombinedDarrell Waltrip8413097Sterling Marlin102012Bobby Hamilton411015Joe Lee Johnson2002Trevor Bayne1203Paul Lewis1001Josh Berry0505Bobby Hamilton Jr0505Jeff Purvis0404L.D. Ottinger0303Mike Alexander0202Casey Atwood0202Brad Teague0101Chad Chaffin0022John King0011Totals1024013155
Darrell Waltrip, from Franklin, Tennessee, was inducted into the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Waltrip is the only Tennessee native driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.Only two of the 15 drivers from Tennessee have won at least one race in the NASCAR Cup Series at a track located in the state of Tennessee: Darrell Waltrip (Bristol, 12 wins; Nashville, eight wins) and Joe Lee Johnson (Nashville, one win).
— NASCAR —
