Irwin Tools Bristol Race Report: The High Line Came In!

The verdict is in and after a few nights of rubber getting put down, the new high line at Bristol Motor Speedway that Bruton Smith modified came in just fine.  The Nationwide race didn't use the high groove too much.  The cars that ended up there were usually already a bit out of shape before they got there, so it was hard to judge.

But in the NASCAR Cup series, the gang was finding the outside line coming to them as it rubbered up.  And it rubbered up nicely as the field slowly but surely inched up the track.  In fact by lap 300, they were getting pretty close to the outside wall and using it aggressively.

The 13 cautions tonight were more than the number of cautions in the last 2 races at Bristol. 

Fenders started getting twisted up as the night went on.

Ken Schrader spun off of Jason Leffler's nose;

Kurt Busch rubbed up against Sam Hornish Jr.'s car, and Busch's deck lid popped up, becoming an air brake.

Ryan Newman tagged Montoya and spun himself into the wall, collecting innocent bystander Jeff Burton.

Almirola and Gilliland traded paint.

Brad Keselowski crunched his tribute Miller Lite paint scheme nose into the inside wall after spinning off of Bobby Labonte's nose.  (Not really Bobby's fault)

Regan Smith and Kurt Busch had a synchronized moment, wrecking together.

Then Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth were racing for the same spot for the lead and wrecked.  Tony later told the media he'll be wrecking Kenseth every chance he gets for the rest of the year.  (At least the man has a goal now.)

Dave Blaney's engine "blowed" up!

Casey Mears graced turn 2 wall.

Danica Patrick finished off her car off of Regan Smiths's nose.  I think she came down on him. (This was the 13th caution of the evening.)

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Aside from the carnage that erupted, like the Bristol of old, sort of, there was some great tactics being deployed by various teams.  The last 20 to 30 laps was pure racing and Denny Hamlin won the night.  The upper line turned out to be the fun line by the time the night was over.

In fact Jeff Gordon was saying after the race that Bruton Smith should grind the entire track because this night of racing reminded him of the old Bristol.  Nice.

Top-10 finishers were:  D. Hamlin, J. Johnson, J. Gordon, B. Vickers, M. Ambrose, Ky. Busch, C. Bowyer, J. Logano, K. Kahne, & P. Menard.

And with that, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are locked into the chase.  Nine spots to go.

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Moment of Levity:  In other news, Bruton Smith gets on the phone to find out what his track grinder go-to man is doing next week!

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