The night race at Bristol Motor Speedway is always anticipated by fans as the most exciting race of the year, because the bumping and banging is pretty much guaranteed. For that same reason, the short track can be the most nerve-racking for racers -- especially this close to the Chase.
After an eventful race at Michigan, the Nextel Cup points standings underwent some drastic changes. Jeff Burton took the biggest hit, dropping five positions to ninth in the standings. The biggest jump was by Jeff Gordon, who went from a precarious ninth place to sixth in points.
With only 138 points between fourth and 11th place and just three races to go before the Chase, we can probably expect some extra fireworks at Bristol as drivers scramble to secure their spot in the top 10. Needless to say, a lot can change.
"[The Sharpie 500] is critical for all the drivers battling to make the Chase," says 11th-place Kasey Kahne. "There were probably 10 drivers with a shot at five spots prior to Michigan. Now, it may be down to no more than six or seven drivers for those five spots."
The strategy for bubble teams this week? Stay out of trouble. "If you have a little luck, stay clean and keep it on the track for 500 laps," Kahne says, "you can have a good finish."

NASCAR.COM PACELAP newsletter 8/24/06

If Kurt wins again, I will be sick