Bristol-1

Bristol-1

March 10, 2014

NASCAR Storylines for Week of Mar. 10, 2014

Another week … another Chase participant.

After seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick most likely drive their way into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in subsequent weeks, Brad Keselowski decided it was his turn to cash in.

With Earnhardt’s fuel-strategy gamble that ultimately backfired, the driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford was able to pass a slowing Earnhardt on the last lap to earn a ticket to Victory Lane … and possibly the postseason.

With a win in hand, expect Keselowksi to race all out at Bristol, where he’s already posted two victories, and during the remaining regular season races.

Earnhardt’s Daytona win has allowed him to go for broke at Phoenix and Vegas and has played a big factor in his consecutive runner-up finishes and his career-best season start. The win also led the popular driver and his crew chief to gamble with their fuel strategy.

Matt Kenseth finished a little further back in Vegas, in 10th. The finish itself wasn’t spectacular … until you look at the bigger picture. The top-10 finish was Kenseth’s was his 250th, becoming only the 22nd driver to accomplish the feat.

Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol provides Kenseth another great opportunity to add a top 10 to his resume. He already has 18 top-10 finishes at the .533-mile track.

One year ago at Bristol, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson put on a show for the ages as the veteran Busch and young gun Larson battled side-by-side over the last couple of laps for the lead. Busch ultimately won the showdown.

The two return to Bristol on Saturday for the Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 Presented by Lilly Diabetes. Will the two regale fans once again with an epic showdown or will two other worth competitors steal the spotlight?

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action at the end of March in Martinsville. Among the drivers scheduled to start the race are NASCAR Next members Jeb Burton, Ben Kennedy and Gray Gaulding, who will be making his first national series start. NASCAR K&N Pro Series driver Cole Custer will also make his national series debut.