BRISTOL, Tenn. — After seeing how tires wore in Saturday’s practice session, drivers anticipate that Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway will mirror last spring’s event, which saw tire wear create one of the more memorable races at this high-banked half-mile track.
Last spring’s race had 16 different leaders and a track-record 54 lead changes.
A key factor with the tire wear is that the temperature is expected to be around 60 degrees at the start of Sunday’s race. That’s similar to the temperature at the start of last spring’s race. Saturday’s temperatures were cooler.
“I think all signs point to a race like the spring,” pole-winner Alex Bowman said Saturday. “We started practice with rubber already on the racetrack from the Xfinity cars and peeled it right up.”
Points leader William Byron also pointed to the weather as the main factor.
“I think it’s just because it’s so cold,” Byron told NBC Sports. “The track temp plays such a big factor. … For whatever reason it’s not laying rubber. Probably look really similar to last (spring).”
Asked if he was surprised by what happened Saturday, Chris Buescher told NBC Sports: “Every time I come to Bristol right now is a surprise.”
What does Kyle Larson expect? He doesn't know.
"I wasn't too surprised earlier today when Cup practice went the way it did," he said. "But then I won't be surprised (Sunday) if it lays rubber. So, I don't really know what to expect. You kind of got to be ready for everything."
