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NASCAR: 5 Predictions For The Food City 500 At Bristol

By Michael Guadalupe

Apr 21, 2017; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (5) during practice for the NASCAR Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2017; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (5) during practice for the NASCAR Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will Suarez Struggle at Bristol? Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Will Suarez Struggle at Bristol? Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookies Start to Separate

Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez have been two rookie drivers getting the most attention this season, and for good reason.

Both young drivers saw success in the Xfinity Series and now both drivers are racing for top organizations in the Monster Energy Cup Series.

And while they are often looked at together; how well they do or don’t do at any given track, the Food City 500 will be the race where these two rookies start to separate as one improves and the other starts to fall behind.

Weather is impacting the race this weekend at Bristol, but NASCAR was able to get in one practice session where Erik Jones was the fastest driver. Other Toyota drivers like Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin managed to finish the first practice session in the Top 10.

The whole Toyota Racing alliance between Furniture Row Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing showed speed at practice, besides for Daniel Suarez. While his teammates were up front, Suarez was back in 27th.

Short track racing could be a weakness for Suarez, as he finished 32nd at Martinsville, but if he doesn’t find a way to improve at this type of track it could end up having a major impact on his season and his career.

The Food City 500 is going to be the race where Erik Jones continues to make steps forward in his season while Daniel Suarez continues to struggle.

They may have entered the 2017 season as rookies together, but by the end of the race at Bristol it’s going to be a little clearer how one of these rookies is better than the other.

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