Bristol Motor Speedway’s night race in August is one of the most anticipated races on the NASCAR calendar. The race is always a test of endurance and stamina. Many find it curious that Bristol can be the most demanding track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit.
The track is a high banked half mile of constant stress and pull on the body. The driver does not rest at Bristol until there is a yellow flag and then the mental stress begins. Bristol’s pit in and pit out is always a difficult proposition under yellow and under green conditions equally. A tight pit road and a different rules for yellow and green flag pit stops, leads to confusion and lost opportunities in every race at Bristol.
The Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race has a recent history of at least one long 125-150 lap green flag run and any driver that is forced to pit out of sequence during this time can end up two to three laps behind quickly. There is a special breed of driver that can win on the Bristol Motor Speedway concrete and they aren’t always the usual suspects. The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook posted the following odds and they may have let one slip by for a long shot pick.
Best Bet to Win Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race: Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards is a solid choice to win the Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race at 15-1. Edwards has won two of the last three night races in August at Bristol and although the team has struggled the first half of the season, it appears the Ford FR-9 is ready to perform.
The Roush Fenway cars were up front all day in Michigan last week, a horsepower track. Carl Edwards is from a sprint car driver background and he knows how to find a rhythm on this half mile. Horsepower is half the problem. Knowing how to power off the corner at Bristol is the other half of the equation. Edwards has the entire package to do well at Bristol and at 15-1 he will pay nice.
2nd Bet to Win Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race: Matt Kenseth
Two Roush Fenway cars as the two top picks? Yes, they are coming around and Roush Fenway has won four of the last five Irwin Tools Bristol Night races in August. Matt Kenseth is posted at 20-1 to win on Saturday night and he knows how to race through traffic at Bristol if he qualifies poorly. Kenseth is also smart in setting up his car to get off the corner with maximum drive and power off the corner.
3rd Bet to Win Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race: Kurt Busch
A perfect cover bet for the Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race is Kurt Busch at 7-1. Busch is tough to beat at Bristol although he only has one win in the Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race. Busch knows this track so well because he grew up racing the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a smaller version of this Bristol track. Busch is always in the top five late in this race and after blowing a hole through his motor he should have extra motivation.
Long Shot Bet to Win Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race: Marco Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose is a killer pick on the NASCAR Sprint Cup road races but a short track? Ambrose finished third in the spring race at 125-1. Although the races should not be considered similar, Ambrose is the perfect driver for the Bristol Motor Speedway. Ambrose knows from his road race experience how to get into a corner easy and power out with maximum drive off the corner. Ambrose is a perfect long shot pick at 75-1 to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race.
sources:
www.nascar.com
www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com
www.speedtv.com
Las Vegas Hilton Superbook NASCAR Irwin Tools Bristol Night Race Odds to Win.
