NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the fifth race of the season this Sunday. Having said that, after three years of being covered with dirt in the spring, the track will now possess the famed concrete. While the 0.533-mile oval could present a lot of surprises, there are some important factors to take into account.
The 2024 Food City 500 comes at a time when both Chevrolet and Toyota have found some success. At the same time, things have been difficult for the Ford camp yet Ryan Blaney leads the standings chart.
Joe Gibbs Racing will hope to repeat its 2023 dominance
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After failing to find success with the dirt track, NASCAR is finally back to concrete in Bristol. This not only makes it a tricky affair but one that’s bound to make the 2024 Food City 500 even more interesting. Luckily, the weather doesn’t look like a problem.
With a temperature high of 65ºF and a low of 54ºF expected on Sunday, it seems to be a good day for racing. What’s more interesting is the fact that tentatively, there is only a 5% chance of rain for the qualifying and practice sessions. However, for the main race, the chances are only increased to 10% which shouldn’t be a problem.
The place to be in East Tennessee this weekend! ☀️🍀🏁
🎟️ https://t.co/jRTYOMlTYZ#ItsBristolBaby #NASCAR #FoodCity500 #WeatherGuardTruckRace pic.twitter.com/qI9skRhZS7
— Bristol Motor Speedway (@ItsBristolBaby) March 14, 2024
The checkered flag is all set to drop at 3:30 pm ET on Sunday with the race 500 laps long. Having said that, the qualifying would be taking place on Saturday from 5:50 to 7:00 pm ET. Interestingly, there are some drivers who are well-versed with what it takes to win at Bristol Motor Speedway.
However, as per SportingNews.com, the odds favor Kyle Larson (+500) the most to win on Sunday. Along with him, Denny Hamlin (+550) and Christopher Bell (+600) are the other favorites to triumph in Bristol. Despite winning eight times at the track, Kyle Busch is +1100 to win at the weekend.
Last year at Bristol, @dennyhamlin coined this phrase.
It has since been retired. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/fAQilBfX4j
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) March 14, 2024
Last year, Joe Gibbs Racing enjoyed a stunning time at the track. Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag with his third win at the Bristol Motor Speedway. In total, JGR led 431 out of the 500 laps in the 2023 race courtesy of a smart pit selection and pit strategy.
READ MORE – Can Hendrick Motorsports’ Bristol Dominance Power Rick Hendrick to Get a Third Playoff Spot?
Even Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano have registered three and two wins at the track respectively so far. With their dire need for a victory, it is difficult to rule them out on Sunday. Especially, with the tempting prize pool present, it only makes the drivers more motivated to go all the way in the 2024 Food City 500.
Where to watch the 2024 Food City 500 on TV?
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There are still 22 races until the playoff starts. While that’s an awful lot of time for out-of-form drivers to step up, Bristol Motor Speedway presents a great chance. Given the fact that the track is going back to concrete after a three-year gap, it certainly makes it more level-playing for almost every driver.
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Moreover, the pool prize is believed to be about $8,182,531 for the Cup Series race on Sunday. Given that the winner is likely to win eight to ten percent of the total amount of prize money, it takes the amount to $600,000 to $800,000. Well, that’s certainly plenty of money to get a driver motivated in case he’s not.
Bristol purse …. Includes all payouts, all positions and for Cup, charter payouts including payouts for past three years/historical performance of charters. Also includes contribution to points fund and other awards:
Cup: $8,182,531
Trucks: $761,274
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 13, 2024
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To catch up with the live action of the main race, don’t forget to tune into either Fox, Peacock, or PRN on 17th March at 3:30 pm ET. Who do you think will triumph in the 2024 Food City 500? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
READ MORE – Ford’s Flagbearer Ryan Blaney Can Contest Title Rival’s Top-5 Milestone in Bristol