At Phoenix, Toyota drivers absolutely dominated, leading all but 14 laps with Christopher Bell ultimately taking the checkered flag.
Chris Buescher was second and Ty Gibbs third in the final running order. Fresh off his third consecutive top-five finish, Ryan Blaney now leads the regular season championship standings.
Bell is also the defending winner of the spring race at Bristol, but that was on the dirt. This will be the first of two visits the Cup Series makes to the Bristol half-mile this year, returning for the cut-off race in the Round of 16 during the NASCAR Cup playoffs.
This week in the news, several NASCAR Cup and Truck Series drivers were part of a tire test at the newly repaved North Wilkesboro Speedway.
It was also revealed that sports car racing ace and ex-F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi will run the Cup race at COTA next weekend, again driving for 23XI Racing. Another ex-F1 driver, Daniil Kvyat, has entered the NASCAR Xfinity race at COTA.
What is the NASCAR at Bristol schedule?
(Schedule is tentative and subject to change)
Saturday, March 16
3:00 pm ET – NASCAR Truck Series practice – FOX SPORTS 1
3:40 pm ET – NASCAR Truck Series qualifying – FOX SPORTS 1
5:00 pm ET – NASCAR Cup Series practice – FOX SPORTS 1
5:50 pm ET – NASCAR Cup Series qualifying – FOX SPORTS 1
8:00 pm ET – NASCAR Truck Series race (250 laps) – FOX SPORTS 1
Sunday, March 17
3:30 pm ET – NASCAR Cup Series race (500 laps) – FOX
Race winner Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
How can I watch the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol?
- Date: Sunday, March 17
- TV show start time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Stages/Laps: (125-125-250) – 500 laps
- TV channel: FOX | TSN (Canada) | Other international viewing options
- Live stream: FOX Sports Streaming
- Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Who is racing in the Food City 500 at Bristol?
36 cars are on the entry list for the Cup Series race no open entries. A.J. Allmendinger is back behind the wheel of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing entry for the first time since the Daytona 500.