Bristol Wrap Up:Big Day For Richard Childress

It's days like this that every car owner in NASCAR dreams of. Having all their cars sweep the top spots in a race is something that doesn't happen often. But for Richard Childress, Sunday was one of those rare days. His cars took the top three finishing spots in the Food City 500 at Bristol. Jeff Burton was able to take advantage of some troubles for other drivers late to take the win.

 

There are not many car owners in NASCAR that are as thought of around the sport like Richard Childress.  He's had his share of great success in the sport.  Sunday was another big day for him.  Led by race winner Jeff Burton, his three cars took the top spots in Sunday's Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway.  It was the first time that has happened for Childress Racing.  Kevin Harvick finished second with Clint Bowyer third.  Burton led only two laps of the race.  But they were the most important laps of the race.  

 

As there usually is, cautions were a factor at Bristol.  The race was slowed ten times for 68 laps.  Late cautions would be a major factor in the result.  It looked like it would be a battle between Tony Stewart and Harvick.  But with 11 laps to go, Brian Vickers brought out a caution when he hit the wall.  Stewart and Denny Hamlin stayed out while others made pit stops.  The race restarted with five laps to go.  A lap later, Hamlin passed Stewart.  Then, when trying to pass Stewart, Kevin Harvick made contact, spinning out the Home Depot Toyota, then ending up in the wall.  The incident ended a great run for Tony Stewart, who led a race high 267 laps.  But after the incident, he finished 14th.

 

After the Stewart-Harvick incident, a green-white-checker finish was in store.  Denny Hamlin was the leader, but he had problems on the restart, allowing Jeff Burton to pass him with ease.  For Burton, it was his first win at Bristol in his career and ended a victory drought dating back to last year's Spring race at Texas. 

 

Following the Childress trio, Greg Biffle finished fourth with Dale Earnhardt Jr. fifth, Hamlin sixth and Kasey Kahne seventh.  One of the best runs of the day was recorded by youngster Aric Almirola, who finished a career best eighth.  The top ten was rounded out by David Gilliland and Matt Kenseth.  Points leader Kyle Busch looked like a driver to beat until he lost power steering and spun shortly after taking the lead in the race's middle stages.  He wound up 17th, two laps down.

 

Sunday also marked the final points race in the career of Dale Jarrett.  He was honored by the drivers and the fans before the race.  His father Ned Jarrett waved the green flag to start the race.  Dale finished the day in 37th.

 

Next weekend, the Nationwide Series will be in the spotlight as they run Saturday at the Nashville Superspeedway.  The Sprint Cup Series will take next weekend off for Easter.  All three NASCAR series will be back in action the following weekend at Martinsville, Virginia.

Final Laps of Food City 500

By:  CrimsonCowboy.

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