NASCAR’s Bristol Dirt Race, Explained: Format, Rules, Qualifications and Other Changes for the Food City Dirt Race

NASCAR is hosting Weekend Weekend at one of its most in-store tracks.

The cars of the Cup Series will run on the dirt for more than half a century for the first time as soon as the green flag is cleared for the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. The last Cup Dirt Race took place on September 30, 1970 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

Here is all you need to know about the Food City Dirt Race in Bristol, including heat races, rule changes and amendments to cars.

Why is NASCAR racing on dirt in Bristol?

NASCAR saw how popular the truck series’ annual dirt race at Eldora Speedway was and also decided to race cup cars on the surface. Bristol is a suitable place to take down memory lane; The track is beloved by fans and racing people, and the facility is marking its 60th anniversary this year.

Of course, dirt was the racing surface of choice in the early days of NASCAR.

“This is not new to NASCAR,” Fox analyst Clint Bauer Told the Bristol website. Bauer will be part of the broadcast team for the race. “This is where we came from. I think it’s something to stay focused on and remember as well. It’s just not completely thrown somewhere. It’s something that is our past and ours. History was part of it. “

NASCAR canceled the Eldora Dirt Truck race last year due to an outbreak of COCID-19 and then moved the race to Bristol. The truck series will hold another dirt race at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in July.

How does qualification work?

Qualifying for the Bristol dirt race will include four consecutive 15-lap heat races on Saturday. NASCAR has divided the summer race grounds into approximately 39 cars that have been recorded for the main race: three 10-car zones and one nine-car field. The lineup was determined by a random draw for each heat in order of driver point standings.

Qualifying race 1

Qualifying race 2

Qualifying race 3

Qualifying race 4

NASCAR will use a two-part point system to set the starting lineup for the main race.

The first part is the finishing order in the summer race. The winner of each heat will receive 10 points while the 10th place driver will receive one point.

The second part is the number of driver positions in the summer race. Drivers will receive one point according to the position received and there will be no points deducted for losing the position.

Two point totals will be added to determine the total point. The current owner point standings will cause the relationship to collapse.

These qualifying points are strictly for setting up the starting lineup. He will not be added to the driver’s season point total.

NASCAR schedule in Bristol

The Cup Series race will complete an entire weekend of dirt races in Thunder Valley. There will be a race in Bristol on Saturday before and after the Camping World Truck Series Cup heat race. Each series will feature two practice sessions on Friday.

The qualifying race for the Cup Series is scheduled to begin at 1 pm at 6 pm, with the next three races scheduled at 6:15, 6:30 and 6:45 pm. On Sunday, the main race will begin after 3:30 p.m.

Friday, March 26

Saturday, March 27

Sunday, March 28

Car modification for Bristol dirt race

Changes in the surface require changes in cars, mostly on the exterior. Viewers will be able to see the differences.

For starters, the front splitter overhang is gone. A contraption called debris deflector may appear on the hood of some cars. Teams can cover ducts with screens or other materials to prevent dirt. The rear spoiler will be larger than it usually is for short-track races. Cars can be reinforced in the sides and high-stress locations such as the deck and steering arm.

Racing fans hoping to see the cars drift through the turn will be disappointed. As Fox Sports’s Bob Pokras Mentioned, NASCAR decided against installing suspensions that would make the cars more agile due to the cost to the teams.

“I don’t do anything about what they do with a sprint car, midgate or now a dirt late model,” said Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson. Bristol Dirt Nationals. “These cars are heavier and have a lot less than I used to have on the dirt track.”

The cup cars are 1,000 pounds heavier than the late models of the laser model.

Bristol dirt race lap, format and other rules to know

The Bristol Cup Series is scheduled for a dirt race 250 laps (133.25 mi), or the usual number of intervals for a race of cups on the concrete track at Bristol. The race will be divided into three stages: 75, 75 and 100 laps. Drivers will not need to stop for fuel during any phase.

And pit stops will be limited anyway. They will only be allowed during breaks between stages or if a car is involved in an incident. Teams will have the option of not sitting at all during the stage break. Outside drivers will start from the front of the field upon restart. Cars will not be allowed to run or land on the pit road, which remains solid. Posts will not be gained or lost during the stop.

NASCAR states that the procedures for entering and exiting the pit road are similar to the pit closures in the Eldora truck race. NASCAR is setting all these conditions in the name of security.

The caution-flag lap will count in the main race, unlike the qualifying heat race, where only green-flag laps will count.

Although NASCAR is racing on a shorter track this weekend, there will be no “selection” rule, which allows drivers to choose the inside or outside alley on the restart. As NASCAR.com states, “Retaining the orange ‘V’ on a dirt-racing surface was hardly an important factor in this decision.”

The contents of NASCAR Wire Service were used in this report.