Drivers need speed, daring, luck to secure Chase berth at Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. — The Sprint Cup Series rolls into the eastern Tennessee mountains this weekend minus the luggage of the high-drag aerodynamic package that was used last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, and that’s probably a relief for everyone with the possible exception of Michigan winner Matt Kenseth.
Saturday’s race — the Irwin Tools Night Race, considered one of the highlights of the season — will be all about speed, daring and luck. Aerodynamics, so important at wide, super-fast tracks such as MIS, will play a small role, at best, on the tight bullring that is Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bristol races are 500 laps in the neighborhood of 15 seconds around the high-banked 0.533-mile track. The winner typically has one of the grid’s best cars but also rides with enough luck and/or skill to avoid the multi-car accidents that often litter the circuit.
Saturday’s race will be notable for Jeff Gordon on several fronts. Most obviously, it’s the next track in his farewell tour, this event marking his final appearance at BMS as a full-time Cup driver. Bristol has been among Gordon’s best tracks. He shares the lead in victories (five) among active drivers with Kyle and Kurt Busch.
More important for Gordon, this Bristol visit could have huge implications on his hopes of making the Chase for the Sprint Cup and pursuing a fifth championship. Winless, he currently is 15th (of 16) on the Chase grid — 55 points in front of Aric Almirola, the first driver outside the Chase window as teams gather at Bristol. A win would lock Gordon into the Chase. A poor finish could put him in danger of missing the playoffs with only two regular-season races (Darlington Raceway and Richmond International Speedway) remaining.
Perhaps for good measure, Gordon is scheduled to run Bristol with a rainbow paint scheme similar to the one that adorned his Chevrolets during the 1990s, when he won three of his four titles.
Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman and Clint Bowyer are the four drivers joining Gordon in the somewhat shaky territory at the bottom of the Chase grid. As the points stand, all five would qualify for the Chase, but a first-time winner at one of the three remaining races before the grid is set could cause a considerable shake-up.
Eleven drivers enter Bristol with Chase spots virtually ensured.
Among them is the Joe Gibbs Racing quartet of Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. All four own at least one win this year, and Kenseth and Busch have victories in five of the last six races.
A victory Saturday would put the team in an even greater position with the Chase rapidly approaching.
Follow Mike Hembree on Twitter @mikehembree.
GALLERY: 2015 SPRINT CUP RACE WINNERS