The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ 35th Annual Food City 300 is set to get underway at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 19th at 7:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. The second race at Thunder Valley’s .533 mile paved oval will take place under the lights and also should provide plenty of entertainment for racing enthusiasts.
Erik Jones will look to pull of the sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing. The Rookie of the Year candidate drove to victory here in the spring. Jones collected an extra $100,000 dollars for his efforts in the Xfinity Series first installment of the Dash 4 Cash races.
In just 21 starts this season, Erik Jones has reeled in three victories. Jones also has totaled 11 top five’s, 13 top 10’s and an Xfinity Series rookie-record six poles. As a result, he currently resides in fourth place in the Xfinity Series point standings.
The Joe Gibbs Racing phenom has had no performance problems at the high banks at Bristol since the first time he laid rubber here. Erik Jones has accumulated a win from the pole, and another two top fives. He holds an average finish in the Food City 300 of 4.3.
Erik Jones’ teammate Daniel Suarez sat a top the leader board after Friday’s first rain-shortened practice. The Mexican born speedster started in eighth and finished in sixth place in his first go around at the hallowed venue. In fact, three Joe Gibbs Racing’s hot-shots finished inside the top ten, including Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch. If history means anything in the Food City 300, Suarez has a great chance to re-take the points lead from JR Motorsport’s Elliott Sadler.
Elliott Sadler currently is holding on to a 25 point cushion after his ninth place finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Furthermore, Sadler hopes to improve on his 15th place finish the last time he turned laps here in April.
Sadler still holds the race record (94..740 mph average) from his performance in the spring race of 2012. As a result, he captured his second win in an Xfinity Series car at Bristol Motor Speedway. The points leader also has claimed victory here in a Sprint Cup hot-rod in 2001.
Kyle Busch has the chance to win his ninth NASCAR Xfinity Series contest at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Food City 300. Kyle Busch was the third fastest driver in the first practice session. The defending Sprint Cup champion also finished in second in the spring event.
If Busch gets the job done, he would tie his own record for the most series wins at a NASCAR venue. The Joe Gibbs Racing mainstay has won nine times at Phoenix International Raceway. Mark Martin holds the all-time record for the most series wins at a single track. Martin won on 11 different occasions at Rockingham Speedway.
Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon will once again look to get off the schnide and capture his first trip to Victory Lane in 2016. Dillon has been consistent throughout the season and rests in third place in the Xfinity Series points race.
Ty Dillon’s 2016 campaign has also shown signs that a win is on the horizon. In his 21 starts, he has posted one pole and seven top five’s. The race owners grandson has an impressive three runner-up finishes heading into the Food City 300 on Saturday.
This weeks event at Bristol could also be when Ty Dillon breaks his 68 race win-less streak. In addition, he would secure his spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs in just over a months time. Dillon has made six starts at Bristol Motor Speedway. The up and comer has posted three top five’s and six top 10’s. His average finish at the toilet bowls half-mile is 5.5.
Finally, seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are entered in the Food City 300. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, and Austin Dillon are a few that will be competing under the lights in the Food City 300. Regan Smith will also make his first Xfinity Series start this season driving the #88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
Xfinity Series Point Standings Top 20:
1. Elliott Sadler
2. Daniel Suarez 9 675 -25
3. Ty Dillon 8 667 -33
4. Erik Jones # 21 648 -52
5. Justin Allgaier 3 646 -54
6. Brendan Gaughan 5 631 -69
7. Brennan Poole # 3 618 -82
8. Brandon Jones # 2 595 -105
9. Darrell Wallace Jr 4 539 -161
10. Ryan Reed 1 526 -174
11. Ryan Sieg 0 483 -217
12. Blake Koch 1 466 -234
13. Ross Chastain 5 463 -237
14. Dakoda Armstrong 0 448 -252
15. Jeremy Clements 1 430 -270
16. Jj Yeley 2 405 -295
17. Garrett Smithley # 0 -361
18. Ryan Preece # 1 351 -349
19. Ray Black Jr # 2 305 -395
20. Bj McLeod # 0 297 -403
