Today, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Bristol Motor Speedway for the second Culinary City Dust Race. NASCAR introduced this unique event at “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” in Bristol, Tennessee last year. While the inaugural event was certainly a spectacle, riders had plenty of complaints about the race it created. This year, Bristol has increased the number of banks on the surface to make it possible to fast across multiple tracks.
The track changes have increased parallel racing and made overtaking a bit easier. The Next Gen’s durable composite bodywork also makes contact between drivers less likely to end their day. And having a chance to get ahead is important because rain threatens the entire race.
Stewart-Haas’ Cole Custer took pole to the race after starting ninth and finishing second in his qualifying heat, taking the most points of any driver in the field. Basically, the pitch was broken in the trench during the opening part of the race. NASCAR issued a warning to the competition and asked all drivers to open the grille slits and clean the windshield.
Custer’s teammate Chase Briscoe took the lead as the race resumed. After sliding into the wall, Briscoe will lose her head, turn outside and must be alert. It was a dirty race, it was only a matter of time until Hendrick’s Kyle Larson showed up first. Once Larson leading, he dominate the rest of the first stage. When the stage ended cautiously, Larson had a two-second lead.
The race has non-competitive pit stops between stages. The riders left the pitlane where they entered, but the riders who didn’t pick the pit moved forward. Trackhouse drivers Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain along with Chase Briscoe decided to stay and restart from scratch, with Suárez as team leader.
Suárez will spend most of the second stage battling Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, but Chase Briscoe will win the segment with a late-stage push. Larson spent most of the game just behind the leaders, unable to maintain invincible form in the early stages.
As the rain approached the end of the second stage, the track was too wet to restart the third race, and NASCAR was forced to raise a red flag. After about half an hour of delay, the rain stopped and the track was prepared for racing to resume. The rain never completely dissipates as light showers continue in the final stages.
Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick led much of the segment, but Chase Briscoe had other ideas as he looked to win the race. Briscoe made it through turn three in the final round to try to take the lead. Instead, he took turns on the side of Reddick’s No. 8 Chevy Camaro.
Both drivers spin out. Kyle Busch, third, was able to get past the front row to win the Food City Dirt Race. I really hope that Reddick punched Briscoe in the face for this. However, Briscoe has since apologized for reaching out. Reddick accepted the apology, understanding that he would do the same in that position.
Race results – Top 10
- Kyle Busch
- Tyler Reddick
- Joey Logano
- Kyle Larson
- Ryan Blaney
- Alex Bowman
- Christopher Bell
- Chase Elliott
- Michael McDowell
- Ty Dillon
The NASCAR Cup Series returns next week at the Talladega Superspeedway.
