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Cup Series Notebook... watch for updates all week long
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN (0.533-mile oval)

  • Bud Pole Qualifying: Friday, August 25 (Speed at 4:30 p.m. AT, 3:30 p.m. ET)
  • Final Practice: Friday, August 25 (TNT at 8:00 p.m. AT, 7:00 p.m. ET)
  • Race: Saturday, August 26 (TNT/TSN at 8:00 p.m. AT, 7:00 p.m. ET)
Fast Facts
The race: Sharpie 500 (Race No. 24 of the 36-race NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season)
The place: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
The date/time: Saturday, Aug. 26, 7:40 p.m. (EDT)
TV: TNT/TSN, 7 p.m. (EDT).
Radio: PRN/XM Satellite
Posted awards: $6,055,119
Race length: 266.5 miles, 500 laps
Track layout: .533-mile oval
2005 winner: Matt Kenseth
2005 polesitter: Matt Kenseth
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Jimmie Johnson 3,365. 2. Matt Kenseth 3,307. 3. Kevin Harvick 3,048. 4. Mark Martin 2,970. 5. Tony Stewart 2,959. 6. Jeff Gordon 2,931. 7. Kyle Busch 2,922. 8. Denny Hamlin 2,920. 9. Jeff Burton 2,916. 10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,881.
Practice/Qualifying Schedule: Friday – Practice, 12:05 p.m. – 1:35 p.m. Qualifying, 3:40 p.m. Final Practice, 6:30 – 7:20 p.m.

Event Stats - underlined when link is activated
  • Practice Results - click here
  • Qualifying Order - click here
  • Qualifying Results - click here
  • Starting Lineup - click here
  • Race Results (unofficial) here
  • Point Standings (post-race, unofficial) here

    Kenseth Sweeps Weekend at Bristol

    BRISTOL, TENN. -- Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth is back in championship form.

    The smooth-driving DeWALT Ford driver took over the lead in the final stages of the grueling Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway to win his second race in as many nights at the half-mile, high-banked track.

    Kenseth, who also won Friday night's NASCAR Busch Series race, held off a hard-charging Kyle Busch to capture his fourth NEXTEL Cup event this season. The win clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the 10-race dash to the championship. Click here for the rest of the story.

    See the Pictures - click here

    Post-Race Notes
    • Matt Kenseth won the 2006 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, scoring his 14th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 244th career start.
    • This was his fourth victory in 2006 joining Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne who also have four victories in 2006. Kenseth won at California, Dover and Michigan one race ago.
    • Kenseth is the first driver to post back-to-back victories in 2006.
    • Kenseth became the first driver to post back-to-back Bristol night race victories since Dale Earnhardt in 1987-1988.
    • Kenseth became the third driver to score weekend sweeps at Bristol joining Dale Earnhardt Jr. (August 2004) and Kevin Harvick (April 2005).
    • Kenseth moved into 44th on NASCAR’s all-time winners list tied with LeeRoy Yarbrough and Dick Hutcherson.
    • Kenseth scored his second victory in 14 races at Bristol and third victory in 40 races on a short track.
    • Kenseth won the race from the fourth-place starting position.
    • Kenseth scored his 13th top-five finish in 24 races this season, the most of all drivers.
    • Kenseth remained second in the point standings, now just seven points behind first-place Jimmie Johnson.
    • Jeff Burton led the most laps for the second time in 2006. Burton also led the most at Indianapolis.
    • Race winner Kenseth led four times for 117 laps including the final 51 laps in the 2006 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
    • This was team owner Jack Roush’s 94th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory. Roush has scored eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Bristol.
    • Jack Roush Racing has won at least one race each season 1997-2006, 10 consecutive years.
    • Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth have each clinched a spot in the 2006 Chase.
    • Kyle Busch (second) scored his 13th top-10 finish in 2006. It was his second top-10 finish in four races at Bristol. Busch climbed from seventh to fourth in the point standings, 138 points ahead of 11th place Kasey Kahne.
    • Dale Earnhardt Jr. (third) scored his 11th top-10 finish in 2006. It marked his seventh top-10 finish in 14 races at Bristol. Earnhardt Jr. climbed from 10th to ninth in the point standings, 92 points ahead of 11th place Kasey Kahne.
    • Scott Riggs (fourth) scored his sixth top-10 finish in 2006. It was his first top-five finish in six races at Bristol and first top-five finish since he finished second at Michigan in August 2005.
    • Jeff Gordon (fifth) scored his 11th top-10 finish in 2006. It was his 17th top-10 finish in 28 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gordon climbed from sixth to fifth in the point standings, 132 points ahead of 11th place Kasey Kahne.
    • Denny Hamlin (sixth) scored his 12th top-10 finish in 2006, the most among the rookie contenders. He extended a streak of six straight top-10 finishes that began at New Hampshire in July.
    • Point leader Jimmie Johnson (10th today) has been ranked among the top 10 for 93 consecutive races.
    • Jeff Burton (ninth) posted his 17th top-15 finish in the last 18 races dating to Texas in April. Burton climbed from ninth to seventh in the point standings and is just 105 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne.
    • Kevin Harvick (11th) extended a 36-race streak of running at the finish that began at California last September, the longest current streak. Harvick has posted eight straight top-15 finishes.
    • Tony Stewart (22nd) ended a streak of four straight top-10 finishes. He dropped from fifth to eighth in the point standings now just 97 points ahead of 11th place Kasey Kahne.
    • Brian Vickers (33rd) ended a streak of 10 straight top-20 finishes that began at Pocono in June.
    • At least one of the Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contenders has scored a top-15 finish in all 24 races this season.
    Qualifying Notes
    • Kurt Busch won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Bud Pole for the Sharpie 500, lapping Bristol Motor Speedway in 15.362 seconds at 124.906 mph. Ryan Newman holds the track-qualifying record of 14.908 seconds, 128.709 mph - set March 21, 2003.
    • This is Kurt Busch’s seventh career Bud Pole in 208 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races.
    • This is his fourth Bud Pole and 17 top-10 start in 2006. He is tied for the most Bud Poles and leads all other drivers in top-10 starts this season. Kasey Kahne (four), Jeff Burton (four), Greg Biffle (two), Denny Hamlin (two) and Ryan Newman (two) are the other multiple Bud Pole winners this season.
    • This is Kurt Busch’s first Bud Pole in 12 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has posted top-10 starts in five of those 12 races.
    • Kurt Busch became the fifth different Bud Pole winner in the past six races at Bristol. Qualifying was canceled here in March.
    • Jeff Burton posted the second-quickest qualifying lap of 15.374 seconds, 124.808 mph – and will join Kurt Busch on the front row for the Sharpie 500. His career-best Bristol start is just his third top-10 in 26 races here.
    • This is the 11th Bud Pole for Dodge in 2006. Chevrolet has eight Bud Poles and Ford has four. Qualifying was canceled at Bristol in March.
    • Bobby Labonte (third) posted his 10th top-10 star tin 28 races at Bristol, but his first since March 2000.
    • Matt Kenseth (fourth) posted his sixth top-10 start in 14 races at Bristol and his 10th this season.
    • Tony Stewart (fifth), who won the Bud Pole in just his second Bristol race (August 1999), posted his seventh top-10 start in 16 races at Bristol.
    • Kyle Petty (eighth) posted his best qualifying effort since he started eighth at Richmond in May 2003. This is the first time since Talladega in October 2001 that two Petty Enterprises cars have started in the top 10.
    • Five of the current top-10 drivers in the point standings qualified in the top 10: Burton, Kenseth, Stewart, Denny Hamlin (sixth) and Kevin Harvick (seventh).
    • Reed Sorenson (10th) will join Hamlin in making this the 10th time this season that at least two rookies have started from the top 10.
    • Six drivers failed to qualify for the Sharpie 500: Chad Chaffin, Hermie Sadler, Mike Wallace, Mike Skinner, Morgan Shepherd and Stanton Barrett. Shepherd and Barrett withdrew before qualifying.
    Who's Hot Heading to Bristol
    • Jimmie Johnson has scored a top-15 finish in 20 of the 23 races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
    • Matt Kenseth has posted 12 top-five finishes in 2006 and ranks second in the point standings. After 23 races one year ago, he ranked 15th.
    • Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne have each won four races in 2006, the most of all drivers.
    • Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to score 17 top-10 finishes in the first 23 races of 2006, four more than any other driver.
    • Denny Hamlin has scored top-15 finishes in 13 of the last 14 races. He has scored five straight top-10 finishes.
    • Kevin Harvick has posted seven straight top-15 finishes.
    • Tony Stewart has scored four straight top-10 finishes.
    • Brian Vickers has scored 10 straight top-20 finishes.
    Bristol Nuggets
      Bristol Milestones
    • Brian Vickers is expected to make his 100th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Bristol Motor Speedway.
      Starting Up Front is not Important at Bristol
    • Three of the last five races at Bristol have been won from starting positions outside the top-10.
      Bristol Pole Winners
    • There have been five different Bud Pole winners in the last five races at Bristol.
      Bristol Streaks
    • Jeff Gordon has started in the top 15 in the last 26 straight races at Bristol. Gordon has competed in 27 races there. Gordon has started on the front-row in 13 of his 27 races there.
    • Greg Biffle has posted five straight top-10 starts at Bristol.
    • Ryan Newman has posted seven straight top-10 starts at Bristol.
      Recent Dominance at Bristol
    • Greg Biffle holds the longest streak among active drivers at Bristol, posting top-10 finishes in his last three races there. Why are there so few finishing streaks among active drivers at Bristol?? The simple answer is because it's Bristol.
      Owner Wins at Bristol Motor Speedway
    • Junior Johnson scored 21 wins at Bristol Motor Speedway, the most of any car owner. Those 21 wins were scored by: Cale Yarborough (nine), Darrell Waltrip (eight), Bobby Allison (two), Charlie Glotzbach (one) and one by Johnson himself as an owner/driver. His last Bristol victory was scored by Darrell Waltrip in August 1986.
      Different Owner/Driver Winners at Bristol Motor Speedway
    • There have been four different race winners and four different car-owner victories in the last four races at Bristol.
      Leading The Way at Bristol Motor Speedway
    • Cale Yarborough led 4,306 laps in 29 races at Bristol, the most of all drivers. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 2,388 laps led in 27 races at Bristol.
      Would you Believe?
    • A Chevrolet, a Ford and a Dodge have each posted a victory in the last three races at Bristol.
      Bristol Standouts
    • Richard Petty had 60 career starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, more than any other driver. He scored 26 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes at Bristol, which remain the most among all drivers.
    • Mark Martin leads all full-time drivers with 39 starts at Bristol Motor Speedway.
    • Cale Yarborough scored nine Bud Poles at Bristol Motor Speedway, leading all drivers.
    • Darrell Waltrip leads all drivers with 12 victories at Bristol Motor Speedway.
    • Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers, each with five victories at Bristol Motor Speedway.
    • Mark Martin leads all full time, active drivers with 15 top-five finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway.
    • Mark Martin has scored 21 top-10 finishes at Bristol, the most among full time, active drivers.
    • Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with an 4.962 starting average in 27 races at Bristol.
    • Greg Biffle has a 9.857 finishing average in his seven races at Bristol Motor Speedway, the best among active drivers.
      Season Nuggets
    • Any driver leading the 11th-place driver by 381 points following Bristol is guaranteed a spot in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. No driver has clinched a spot in the 2006 Chase.
    • Only one driver that ranked in the top-10 after Race No. 23 in 2005 failed to make the Chase. Jamie McMurray was 10th but dropped to 13th the following week and never regained the top 10. He was overtaken by Matt Kenseth who ranked 15th at this point one year ago and finished seventh.
    • After 23 races in 2006, four drivers are within the 400-point window. One year ago there were six drivers within the 400-point window.
    • In 2005 seven of the top-15 drivers were separated by 30 points or less with 11th to 10th separated by 51 points.
    • Eleventh to 15th in the 2005 standings were separated by just 53 points.
    • After 23 races in 2006, six of the top-11 drivers are separated by 35 points or less.
    • Fourth-place Mark Martin is 138 points ahead of 11th-place Kasey Kahne.
    • Current point leader Jimmie Johnson has scored 17 top-10 finishes in 23 races in 2006. That is four more top-10 finishes than any other driver.
    • Kevin Harvick has outscored all drivers in the last 10 races earning 1,457 points. He outscored current point leader Jimmie Johnson by 103 points during the 10-race period. Johnson ranks fourth in points earned in the last 10 races.
    • Denny Hamlin, currently eighth in points, ranks second in points earned in the last 10 races (1,428).
    • Kurt Busch and Brian Vickers, 14th and 15th in Championship points, respectively, rank eighth and ninth in points earned in the last 10 races.
    • All 23 victories in 2006 have been scored by drivers ranked in the top-14 in the point standings. Mark Martin (fourth) and Jeff Burton (ninth) are the only two drivers among the top 10 yet to score a victory in 2006.
    • Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle have each earned 95 lap leader bonus points, 50 more than point leader Jimmie Johnson who has 45. Gordon is the only driver to lead in 16 of the 23 races this season.
    • Ryan Newman has posted five straight top-10 starts, the longest current streak.
    • After winning only three races in all of 2005, Dodge has won five of the 23 races in 2006. Chevrolet has 14 victories while Ford has just four. One year ago Ford had nine victories at this point of the season.
    • Three of the top-four in driver points have been running at the finish in every race in 2006: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin.
    • Kevin Harvick has climbed from 10th to third in the point standings since Sonoma.
    • Tony Stewart has climbed from 11th to fifth in the point standings since Loudon.
    • Jeff Gordon has posted four DNFs - the most of any driver ranked in among the top 23.
    • NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year contender Denny Hamlin has scored top-10 finishes in 11 of the 23 races in 2006 (48 percent). He has scored 14 top-10s in 30 career races - 47 percent. Hamlin has scored top-10 finishes in each of the last five races and 13 top-15 finishes in the last 14. He has been the highest finishing rookie in 12 of the 23 races in 2006 (52 percent).
    • At least one rookie has scored a top-15 finish in every race this season. In 18 of the 23 races a rookie finished in the top 10. In seven of the 23 races, two or more rookies finished in the top 10.
    • Fifteen of the top-25 drivers changed point positions at Michigan.


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