Bristol Hosts the NASCAR Food City 500
The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to the legendary Bristol Motor Speedway this Sunday. The race will take place on April 13, 2025. This is for the Food City 500. Known as “The Last Great Colosseum,” Bristol’s high-banked concrete half-mile track promises intense short-track racing action. Drivers battle for position in one of the season’s most anticipated events.
Denny Hamlin, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, will make his 400th consecutive start in the Cup Series. It will be the 36th start of his career at the 0.533-mile oval in Bristol, Tennessee. Hamlin has a circuit-leading four victories at the short track. This track is nestled in an area known as “Thunder Valley” near the Tennessee-Virginia state line.
Qualifying Breakdown
Friday’s qualifying session saw Alex Bowman capture the pole position with a lap speed of 126.675 mph, giving the Hendrick Motorsports driver prime track position for Sunday’s race. This marks an important achievement for Bowman at one of NASCAR’s most challenging tracks.
In a surprising performance, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. secured the outside front row starting position with a speed of 128.563 mph, demonstrating the JTG Daugherty Racing team’s improved short-track program.
Kyle Larson will start third after posting a 128.511 mph lap, while Denny Hamlin (128.460 mph) rounds out the second row. Defending Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney qualified fifth with a speed of 128.305 mph.
Top 10 Qualifiers for the 2025 Food City 500:
- Alex Bowman (126.675 mph)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (128.563 mph)
- Kyle Larson (128.511 mph)
- Denny Hamlin (128.460 mph)
- Ryan Blaney (128.305 mph)
- Ty Gibbs (128.228 mph)
- Christopher Bell (128.040 mph)
- AJ Allmendinger (127.903 mph)
- Carson Hocevar (127.758 mph)
- Justin Haley (127.665 mph)
Notable performances include rookie Carson Hocevar making his first career top-10 qualifying effort at Bristol. AJ Allmendinger shows his short-track prowess with an 8th place qualifying run. Several championship contenders will start outside the top 10. This group includes Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and William Byron. This situation creates interesting storylines for the race.
Odds to Win
According to the latest betting lines, the favorites to take the checkered flag include:
- Kyle Larson: +430
- Denny Hamlin: +420
- Ryan Blaney: +720
- Alex Bowman: +2400
- Christopher Bell: 1+500
- Chase Elliott: +830
- Joey Logano: +2700
- William Byron: +1200
- Tyler Reddick: +3000
- Kyle Busch: +2500
Long shots worth watching include Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+24000). He has shown speed this weekend. Another is Brad Keselowski (+2100). He has historically performed well at Bristol despite qualifying outside the top 15.
*** Full Odds from MyBookie at the end of the Preview
Momentum Drivers
Several drivers enter Bristol with significant momentum that could translate to success on Sunday:
Alex Bowman continues his strong 2025 campaign by securing the pole position at Bristol. Bowman won at Phoenix last month. He has also had consistent top-10 finishes. Bowman appears poised to be a serious contender on Sunday.
Denny Hamlin comes to Bristol fresh off a victory last week. He continues his consistent 2025 campaign. He’s already notched multiple wins. Starting fourth gives him the track position needed at Bristol’s tight confines.
Kyle Larson has finished in the top five in three consecutive races. His third-place qualifying effort puts him in prime position to contend for the win. This is a track where he’s previously shown tremendous speed.
Carson Hocevar has been the surprise of the rookie class in recent weeks. The ninth-place qualifying effort at Bristol represents his best starting position of the season. His short-track background makes Bristol a potential breakthrough venue.
Track Preview
Bristol Motor Speedway presents one of NASCAR’s most unique challenges. The 0.533-mile concrete oval features steep 28-degree banking in the turns and 650-foot straightaways. The track’s compact nature ensures constant action, with drivers completing laps in just under 15 seconds at racing speeds.
The Food City 500 will run for 500 laps, totaling 266.5 miles of intense racing. Tire management will be crucial, as Bristol’s concrete surface is notoriously abrasive. Teams will likely plan for at least six pit stops during green flag conditions.
Weather forecasts predict temperatures in the mid-60s. Partly cloudy skies are expected. These conditions are ideal for racing. They should allow for maximum grip and competitive racing throughout the field.
Key storylines to watch include:
- Track Position – With passing difficult at Bristol, qualifying position and pit strategy will be crucial.
- Lap Traffic – Leaders will encounter slower cars within 15-20 laps, making traffic management a vital skill.
- Concrete Surface – Bristol’s concrete provides a different challenge than asphalt tracks, affecting tire wear patterns and car setup.
- Caution Periods – Bristol typically produces multiple cautions, creating opportunities for strategy calls that can dramatically change the running order.
Past Bristol Performers
Several active drivers have demonstrated particular prowess at Bristol:
Kyle Busch leads active drivers with eight Cup Series wins at Bristol. This record makes him always a threat regardless of his starting position. His aggressive driving style suits Bristol’s demanding nature.
Denny Hamlin has been more dominant at Bristol. He won by leading at least 142 laps in two of the past three races. After his Sept. 16, 2023, victory and last springs victory in this race, his going for 3 wins in a row.
Brad Keselowski has won at Bristol multiple times and typically shows strong pace at the Tennessee short track.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start on the front row. He has historically performed well at Bristol. He has multiple top-5 finishes at the track throughout his career.
How to Watch
The Food City 500 will begin at 3:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
TV Coverage: The race will be broadcast live on FOX, with pre-race coverage beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Streaming Options: You can stream the race via the FOX Sports app. Appropriate authentication is required. Alternatively, use subscription streaming services that carry FOX.
Radio: Live race coverage will be available on MRN (Motor Racing Network) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Race Format:
- Stage 1: Laps 1-125
- Stage 2: Laps 126-250
- Final Stage: Laps 251-500
Final Thoughts
With Alex Bowman leading the field to green and surprising qualifiers like Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carson Hocevar is mixing up the traditional contenders. Sunday’s Food City 500 promises to deliver the intense, fender-banging action. This excitement has made Bristol a fan favorite for decades. The concrete high banks of “The Last Great Colosseum” will test drivers’ skill. They will also require patience and determination. Racers will battle for 500 laps at one of NASCAR’s most challenging and prestigious venues.
Watch for the interactions between veteran drivers like Hamlin and Larson. The surprising front-runners like Stenhouse and Hocevar will also create compelling storylines. This will happen throughout the afternoon at this iconic NASCAR venue.
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