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2021 Food City Dirt Race

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2021 Food City Dirt Race
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Race 7 of 36 in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
Date March 29, 2021 (2021-03-29)
Location Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.858 km)
Distance 253 laps, 134.849 mi (217.018 km)
Scheduled Distance 250 laps, 133.25 mi (214.445 km)
Average speed 46.313 miles per hour (74.534 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Hendrick Motorsports
Most laps led
Driver Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 122
Winner
No. 22 Joey Logano Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer
Nielsen Ratings 3.114 million[9]
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Rob Albright (Backstretch)

The 2021 Food City Dirt Race was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 29, 2021, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Contested over 250 laps on the 0.533 miles (0.858 km) short track, it was the seventh race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. The normal concrete racing surface at Bristol was covered with 2,300 truckloads of red clay, reducing the banking from 28 to 19 degrees, and making for the Cup Series' first race on dirt since 1970.[10]

Report

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Background

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Bristol Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating.

In 2021, the race shifted to a dirt surface version of the track and was renamed the Food City Dirt Race.[11][12] On January 25, 2021, NASCAR announced the stage lengths of all events in all three series. According to the stage lengths, it states the race will consist of 250 laps.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 Chris Windom Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
53 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
66 Mike Marlar MBM Motorsports Toyota
77 Stewart Friesen (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 Shane Golobic Live Fast Motorsports Ford
96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

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First practice

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Alex Bowman was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 20.155 seconds and a speed of 89.308 mph (143.727 km/h).[13]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.155 89.308
2 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20.225 88.999
3 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20.248 88.898
Official first practice results

Final practice

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Ryan Blaney was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 20.172 seconds and a speed of 89.233 mph (143.607 km/h).[14]

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 20.172 89.233
2 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20.194 89.135
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20.228 88.986
Official final practice results

Qualifying heat races

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Qualifying heat races were cancelled due to weather. As a result, NASCAR used the standard competition-based formula used in races where practice and qualifying are not being conducted for pandemic safety reasons. Denny Hamlin will start first as the control car, as Kyle Larson, who had the top score under the competition-based formula from the previous week, was penalised for an engine change in Friday practice over concerns of overheating in second practice.[15]

Starting Lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
7 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
10 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
11 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
12 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
13 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
14 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
15 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
16 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
17 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
18 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
19 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
20 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
21 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
22 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
23 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
24 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
25 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
26 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
27 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
28 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
29 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
30 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
31 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
32 77 Stewart Friesen (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
33 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
34 53 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
35 78 Shane Golobic Live Fast Motorsports Ford
36 15 Chris Windom Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
37 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
38 66 Mike Marlar MBM Motorsports Toyota
39 96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
Official starting lineup

Race

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The race was delayed to Monday after rain caused flooding in the area.[16] Logano won the race. There were some visibility problems because of dust and mud.[17] Larson and Bell were the pre-race favorites but crashed out. Truex won the first stage and Suárez led in the second before being passed by Logano.[18] The race was extended following a late caution-period. Hamlin was slow at the final restart and Truex had a flat tire, allowing Stenhouse to come second. Suárez was fourth behind Hamlin and ahead of Newman.[16] During the race it was announced that the race would again be held on dirt during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series.[19]

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 100

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 7
5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 6
6 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 5
7 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 4
8 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 3
9 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 2
10 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 100

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 10
2 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 9
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 6
6 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 5
7 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 4
8 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2
10 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 50

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 10 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 253 55
2 13 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 253 42
3 2 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 253 50
4 18 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 253 49
5 14 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 253 41
6 8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 253 40
7 27 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 253 32
8 3 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 253 35
9 24 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 253 31
10 26 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 253 28
11 20 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 253 26
12 16 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 253 25
13 12 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 253 24
14 11 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 253 24
15 6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 253 22
16 28 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 253 21
17 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 253 20
18 22 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 253 19
19 5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 253 35
20 25 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 252 17
21 9 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 252 16
22 7 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 252 15
23 32 77 Stewart Friesen (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 252 0
24 21 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 252 13
25 33 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 252 12
26 39 96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Bros Racing Toyota 252 0
27 19 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 251 18
28 34 53 J. J. Yeley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 249 0
29 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 248 8
30 37 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 247 7
31 38 66 Mike Marlar MBM Motorsports Toyota 244 6
32 31 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 242 0
33 36 15 Chris Windom Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 62 4
34 15 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 54 3
35 17 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 52 2
36 23 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 39 1
37 35 78 Shane Golobic Live Fast Motorsports Ford 39 1
38 30 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 39 1
39 29 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 39 1
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 5 among 5 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 10 for 37
  • Red flags: 1 for 6 minutes and 30 seconds
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 43 minutes and 53 seconds
  • Average speed: 46.313 miles per hour (74.534 km/h)

Media

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Television

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The Food City Dirt Race was carried by Fox in the United States. Mike Joy, five-time Bristol winner Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Vince Welch handled pit road duties for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

Fox
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Vince Welch
Larry McReynolds

Radio

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PRN had the radio call for the race which was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race in the booth when the field raced down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race from atop the turn 3 suites when the field raced down the backstretch. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Lenny Batycki and Wendy Venturini covered the action on pit lane for PRN.

PRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Backstretch: Rob Albright Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Lenny Batycki
Wendy Venturini

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Bristol Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "First Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Final Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Food City Dirt Race Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Food City Dirt Race ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Retrieved 6 April 2021.[dead link]
  10. ^ "What a Mess: NASCAR worried about first Bristol dirt race". thestar.com. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  11. ^ "NASCAR Cup Series to go dirt trackin' at Bristol in 2021 - NBC Sports". NASCAR Talk | NBC Sports. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  12. ^ "NASCAR announces 2021 networks and start times headlined by historic Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway". Bristol Motor Speedway. December 10, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Utter, Jim (March 26, 2021). "Alex Bowman leads first Cup practice on Bristol dirt". Motorsport.com. Bristol, Tennessee: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Utter, Jim (March 26, 2021). "Ryan Blaney tops Friday's final practice at Bristol Dirt Track". Motorsport.com. Bristol, Tennessee: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Utter, Jim (March 27, 2021). "Bristol dirt heat races canceled, Truck race postponed". Motorsport.com. Bristol, Tennessee: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Utter, Jim (30 March 2021). "Logano claims NASCAR Cup win in overtime on Bristol dirt track". Autosport. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  17. ^ Lerner, Preston (1 April 2021). "A thousand times the fun: dirt race helps to recapture lost NASCAR magic". Motor Sport magazine. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  18. ^ Williams-Smith, Jake (30 March 2021). "Joey Logano wins on dirt to become 7th different winner in unpredictable NASCAR season". Motor Sport magazine. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  19. ^ Utter, Jim (30 March 2021). "Dirt racing to remain in NASCAR Cup for 2022 at Bristol". Autosport. Retrieved 23 April 2021.


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