Bristol 500 Race Recap
No issues for the 99 on the restart, as Gordon seeks to find a way around the 17 for second. While those two fight it out, Hamlin sees his chance and goes to bottom of the track and passes them both to steal away second place. Stenhouse’s decision not to take any tyres isn’t paying off as he falls outside of the top five when Kenseth passes him for 5th. Once again though the drivers don’t have long to make any moves as the 33 of Tony Raines makes contact with the outside wall and then has Jimmie Johnson run into the back of him to again bring out the yellow flags. The leaders elect to stay out with the exception of Gordon who comes in from third reporting sky rocketing water and oil temperatures.
Aug 24, 2013; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth (20) and Carl Edwards (99) lead the field during a restart during the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
A good restart for Edwards as he holds his lead but a great start for Kenseth in fourth place as he goes round the outside of Hamlin for second place. The two of them start pulling away from Hamlin as Kenseth starts trying to find a way to get round the 99. He gets a helping hand from Patrick when Edwards comes up to lap her. Edwards can’t initially get by the 10 and he moves underneath her to make the pass. Kenseth sees his chance and moves right behind the 10 car and uses it as a tow to get alongside the 99 and then in front of it to take the lead.
Kenseth though can’t pull away from the 99 as he too is getting held up by lapped cars fighting amongst themselves, but he is able to keep calm and rely on his spotter to help guide him round them. Meanwhile behind them in third place now sits Montoya who has been able to get by Hamlin and is having one of his strongest short track runs for a long time. Just as the race passes the halfway point the yellow flags are once again thrown as debris is spotted on the track as a result of Vickers brushing the outside wall. The leaders all come to pit row with the 20 winning the race off but a great stop by the 42 team sees Montoya now sit in second place. Hamlin plays a little bit of strategy as he slows before exiting pit road to allow Jr to pass him so that he will start on the much preferred outside line. However that doesn’t work out as Kenseth is penalised for speeding and will have to serve a drive through. Montoya won’t be the race leader though as two cars elected to stay out so at the restart the top five will be Menard, Kyle, Montoya, Jr and Hamlin.
Menard gets a good restart but Kyle pushes him hard and when the 27 has a wobble Kyle tries to seize his chance on the inside, but like so many before him he can’t make the move work and Menard holds the lead. Meanwhile Montoya hasn’t had the best of restarts as he gets passed by Jr and Edwards (who took four tyres at the last stop) to fall back to 5th. Edwards is putting his fresh rubber to good use as he catches up to Kyle but is encountering the same issues other drivers have had with the inside line. The fighting for second allows Menard to pull away to a half second lead as back in the field Johnson gets nudged by Kenseth and the 48 makes contact with the outside wall, luckily he is able to keep the car going and the race stays green.
Aug 24, 2013; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars avoid debris during the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle’s old tyres seem to be done as Edwards finally claims second place and he is then shortly passed by Montoya and Gordon and has Logano glued to his rear bumper. Back up front Edwards has caught Menard but is struggling to make any more progress. This has allowed Montoya, who is running some very fast lines that nobody else is, to catch up to the 99 car. Edwards makes a move to the outside and gets side by side with Menard but he isn’t going to give up the lead easily and the two run side by side. Montoya sees his chance and tries to follow behind Edwards but when that doesn’t work he moves to the bottom taking the leaders three wide. Edwards is able to get better drive out of the turns and claims the lead while the 42 is also able to do the same and he takes second.