The 2010 Food City 500 was held on March 21, 2010 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee as the fifth race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. This race marked the last appearance of the rear wing on the Car of Tomorrow, with the spoiler returning the following race.[4]

2010 Food City 500
Race details[1][2]
Race 5 of 36 in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2010 Food City 500 program cover
2010 Food City 500 program cover
Date March 21, 2010 (2010-March-21)
Official name Food City 500
Location Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.533 mi (0.857 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (430 km)
Weather Isolated thunderstorms with a high around 57; wind out of the NE at 7 mph. Chance of precipitation 20%.
Average speed 79.618 miles per hour (128.133 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 15.396
Most laps led
Driver Kurt Busch Penske Racing
Laps 278
Winner
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network Fox Broadcasting Company
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings 4.4[3]

This race also was the first of three in Carl Edwards' probation following his altercation with Brad Keselowski at the previous race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, in which Keselowski went airborne, subsequently crashing on his side door.[5] The race had 39 lead changes among 13 different leaders and 10 cautions.[6][7][8]

The race attendance of 138,000 marked the end of a long streak of sellout seats at the track, which has a capacity of 158,000.[9] The race had been a sellout since 1982.[10] Draconian regulations kept intact since the 1970s along with rising ticket prices and unexciting restrictor plate races at Talladega and Daytona helped to contribute to the empty seats at NASCAR races in addition to declining TV ratings.[11]

Race report

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Practices and qualifying

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Joey Logano won the pole for the race.

In the first practice, the fastest were Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, and Kasey Kahne; the practice also had three red flags because Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, and Jimmie Johnson spun on the frontstretch.[12][13] During qualifying, Joey Logano won his first Sprint Cup Series pole position while Kurt Busch, Dave Blaney, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top-five.[14] There were only two drivers who failed to qualify: Mike Bliss and Max Papis, both suffering their first DNQs of the season. By contrast both Casey Mears (driving for Keyed-Up Motorsports) and rookie Terry Cook (driving for Whitney Motorsports) made their first starts of the season.[14] In the second practice, the fastest were Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Joey Logano.[15] During final practice, the fastest were Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, and Joey Logano.[16]

Qualifying results

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RANK DRIVER NBR CAR TIME SPEED
1  Joey Logano 20 Toyota 15.396   124.630  
2  Kurt Busch 2 Dodge 15.492   123.857  
3  Dave Blaney 66 Toyota 15.493   123.849   *
4  Jimmie Johnson 48 Chevrolet 15.497   123.818  
5  Jeff Gordon 24 Chevrolet 15.512   123.698  
6  Juan Pablo Montoya 42 Chevrolet 15.521   123.626  
7  Matt Kenseth 17 Ford 15.537   123.499  
8  Carl Edwards 99 Ford 15.549   123.403  
9  Marcos Ambrose 47 Toyota 15.561   123.308  
10  David Reutimann 00 Toyota 15.566   123.269  
11  Tony Stewart 14 Chevrolet 15.569   123.245  
12  Paul Menard 98 Ford 15.579   123.166  
13  Mark Martin 5 Chevrolet 15.587   123.103  
14  Jeff Burton 31 Chevrolet 15.609   122.929  
15  Denny Hamlin 11 Toyota 15.612   122.905  
16  David Gilliland 38 Ford 15.613   122.898  
17  Jamie McMurray 1 Chevrolet 15.614   122.890  
18  Dale Earnhardt Jr. 88 Chevrolet 15.614   122.890  
19  Martin Truex Jr. 56 Toyota 15.625   122.803  
20  Regan Smith 78 Chevrolet 15.627   122.787  
21  Ryan Newman 39 Chevrolet 15.638   122.701  
22  Sam Hornish Jr. 77 Dodge 15.647   122.631  
23  A.J. Allmendinger 43 Ford 15.659   122.537  
24  Kasey Kahne 9 Ford 15.675   122.411  
25  Greg Biffle 16 Ford 15.678   122.388  
26  Clint Bowyer 33 Chevrolet 15.684   122.341  
27  Aric Almirola 09 Chevrolet 15.698   122.232   *
28  Brian Vickers 83 Toyota 15.701   122.209  
29  Scott Speed 82 Toyota 15.711   122.131   *
30  David Ragan 6 Ford 15.733   121.960  
31  David Stremme 26 Ford 15.783   121.574  
32  Robby Gordon 7 Toyota 15.786   121.551  
33  Kevin Harvick 29 Chevrolet 15.792   121.505  
34  Casey Mears 90 Chevrolet 15.823   121.267   *
35  Joe Nemechek 87 Toyota 15.833   121.190   *
36  Brad Keselowski 12 Dodge 15.841   121.129  
37  Elliott Sadler 19 Ford 15.844   121.106  
38  Kyle Busch 18 Toyota 15.845   121.098  
39  Michael Waltrip 55 Toyota 15.848   121.075   *
40  Terry Cook 46 Dodge 15.850   121.060   *
41  Travis Kvapil 34 Ford 15.868   120.923  
42  Mike Bliss 36 Chevrolet 15.930   120.452   *
43  Max Papis 13 Toyota 16.014   119.820   *
44  Bobby Labonte 71 Chevrolet 16.193   118.496   PC
45  Kevin Conway 37 Ford 16.268   117.949   OP

OP: qualified via owners points

PC: qualified as past champion

PR: provisional

QR: via qualifying race

* - had to qualify on time

Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes:   Mike Bliss (#36), Max Papis (#13)

Race summary

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For pre-race concerts, the musical group 4TROOPS, a military band, and Lee Greenwood performed for the fans. Afterward, 4TROOPS performed the National Anthem, and Rev. Mike Rife, of Vansant Church of Christ, gave the Invocation. Steve Austin gave the command "Gentlemen, start your engines!".[17] Before the race, Terry Cook moved to the back of the field because he missed driver introductions.[18] For the first time in his young career, Joey Logano led the field for the green flag.[19] Immediately after the start, Kurt Busch passed him for the lead. On lap 6, Jimmie Johnson passed Busch for the lead. While Logano fell back, Johnson continued to lead until lap 30; Busch passed him in heavy traffic. Busch kept the lead until lap 40, at the first caution. The caution came out when Dave Blaney had a flat tire. Brad Keselowski stayed out while other drivers came in to change tires and add gasoline which resulted him getting the lead. On lap 46, the green flag came out again. Keselowski kept the lead until lap 53 when Jimmie Johnson passed him. Five laps later, the second caution came out because Clint Bowyer slammed into the wall from a blown engine. Few drivers went to change tires and add gasoline on this caution; Johnson led the field to the green flag on lap 62. Johnson kept the lead until lap 99 when Busch passed him in traffic.[17] After Kurt Busch led for seventeen laps, the third caution came out because Denny Hamlin hit the wall in turn two. Most drivers went to pit road to change their tires, but Busch was first off pit road and led them to the green flag on lap 123. Busch's lead would not continue for long as Greg Biffle passed him on lap 124. Three laps later, the fourth caution came out because of rain. With the few rain drops at the track, NASCAR decided to keep the cars on the track to help make sure the track would stay dry. After a sixteen lap caution period, the race resumed on lap 143 with Biffle as the leader. On lap 158, Jimmie Johnson attempted to get the lead but Biffle remained the leader. On lap 191 he was passed by Juan Pablo Montoya for the lead, but four laps later Biffle retook it.[17]

 
Race winner Jimmie Johnson in 2015.

Nine laps later, on lap 204, Biffle was still the leader, but the fifth caution flag came out because Kasey Kahne hit the wall. On lap 210 the green flag came out with Juan Pablo Montoya the leader. After some switching positions on lap 223 Kurt Busch took the lead. Soon after the lead change, there was a green flag run until lap 263 when the sixth yellow came out because Kyle Busch slammed the outside wall. The race resumed on lap 271 with Kurt Busch the leader.[17]

At lap 300, the top three drivers were Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, and Jimmie Johnson. Then on lap 323 the seventh caution flag waved because Regan Smith had tire troubles. Kurt Busch won the race out of pit road to lead the field to the green flag on lap 331. Ten laps later, on lap 342, the eighth caution came out because of a large wreck. The wreck started with Mark Martin and Greg Biffle colliding; thirteen more cars were involved.[20] On lap 358, the green flag came out with Kurt Busch the leader. By lap 370, the top three positions were occupied by Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Jamie McMurray. Rain brought out the ninth caution twenty laps later.[17]

On lap 411, the green flag came back out with Brad Keselowski the leader; Kurt Busch passed him three laps later. By lap 433, Jimmie Johnson caught Kurt Busch. Johnson tried to pass Busch on lap 444, but did not get the lead. During the longest green flag run of the race, Joey Logano hit the turn two wall on lap 479; there was no caution. Three laps later, the tenth caution came out because of debris on the track. During pit stops, Greg Biffle beat everyone out of pit road to lead the field to the green flag on lap 490. Busch and Johnson were fifth and sixth. On lap 492, Tony Stewart took the lead from Biffle; Johnson passed him on the outside a lap later. Jimmie Johnson kept the lead to earn his first career win at Bristol.[21] It was his fiftieth win in his Sprint Cup Series career, and his third win of 2010.[17][21][22]

Race results

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Pos Grid Car Driver Team Make
1 4 48 Jimmie Johnson[23][24] Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 11 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
3 2 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge
4 25 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford
5 7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford
6 8 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 18 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
8 17 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
9 38 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
10 14 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
11 33 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
12 19 56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
13 36 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge
14 5 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
15 28 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
16 21 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
17 23 43 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
18 12 98 Paul Menard Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
19 15 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 37 19 Elliott Sadler Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
21 43 71 Bobby Labonte TRG Motorsports Chevrolet
22 32 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota
23 16 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
24 31 26 David Stremme Latitude 43 Motorsports Ford
25 41 34 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford
26 6 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
27 1 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
28 42 37 Kevin Conway Front Row Motorsports Ford
29 30 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford
30 34 90 Casey Mears Keyed Up Motorsports Chevrolet
31 29 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Racing Team Toyota
32 22 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Penske Racing Dodge
33 9 47 Marcos Ambrose JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota
34 24 9 Kasey Kahne Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
35 13 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
36 20 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
37 40 46 Terry Cook Whitney Motorsports Dodge
38 10 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
39 27 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
40 26 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
41 39 55 Michael Waltrip Prism Motorsports Toyota
42 3 66 Dave Blaney Prism Motorsports Toyota
43 35 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota

References

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  1. ^ Jenna Fryer (March 22, 2010). "Johnson Wins At Bristol". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  2. ^ Jenna Fryer (March 19, 2010). "Joey Logano Has The Pole". ABC News. Retrieved April 3, 2010. [dead link]
  3. ^ "2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup TV Ratings". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  4. ^ Joe Menzer (March 17, 2010). "New Spoiler; Old Wing". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Rodman, Dave (March 9, 2010). "Carl Edward's Probation". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 11, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  6. ^ Sporting News (March 21, 2010). "Johnson Wins For First Time at Bristol". YahooSports. Retrieved March 25, 2010. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Race Information". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  8. ^ "Johnson Earns 50th Win, but It's His First at Bristol". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 21, 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  9. ^ "Bristol Race Has Empty Seats". SB Nation. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  10. ^ Jenna Fryer (September 20, 2010). "Bristol Doesn't Have A Sellout Crowd". Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  11. ^ James Lewallen (October 4, 2012). "Protest draconian NASCAR regulations". The Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Ashley McCubbin. "The Practice Sessions". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  13. ^ "Practice 1 Results". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  14. ^ a b "Starting Positions". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  15. ^ "Practice 2 Results". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  16. ^ "Happy Hour Results". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  17. ^ a b c d e f "Race Summary (Lap By Lap)". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  18. ^ NASCAR (March 22, 2010). "Lap-by-Lap: Bristol". Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  19. ^ Al Pearce (March 19, 2010). "Logano Wins Qualifying". AutoWeek. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  20. ^ David Caraviello (March 22, 2010). "Martin & Biffle Causes Wreck". NASCAR. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  21. ^ a b "Johnson Wins Third Race of The Year". ESPN. Associated Press. March 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  22. ^ "Winning Bristol one of Johnson's biggest accomplishments". topspeed.com. March 22, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  23. ^ "Positions". NASCAR. March 21, 2010. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  24. ^ Jenna Fryer (March 22, 2010). "Jimmie Johnson wins for 1st time at Bristol". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2010.


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