NASCAR Cup Series

Why drivers need to 'manhandle' the race car to win at Bristol

Published Apr. 15, 2016 11:24 a.m. ET

foxsports

I'm really forward to this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, and one of the storylines to follow will actually occur on Saturday in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

The fans have been clamoring for it and NASCAR is giving it to them -- heat races. The qualifying procedure will also be completely different leading up to the race later that day. To start this at Bristol, in my book, is pretty cool.

Looking ahead to Sunday is somewhat similar to what we said going into Martinsville. I just don't know if this low downforce package is going to rear its head all that much. Bristol is about mechanical grip, not aero grip. Bristol has always been about a driver that can manhandle that race car the best.

Bristol is also similar to Martinsville in another aspect. To win at either track, you have to understand the track. It's not about having the fastest race car. It's about being there at the end and putting yourself in a position to win.

That's one reason why Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon won as many races as they did at Bristol. Just like all the races they won at Martinsville, they understood you had to be there at the end.

While some fans still say they want the old Bristol back, I continue to like the racing we have witnessed there. Since they ground the top of the race track, it has given the drivers three grooves. Now they can race around the bottom if they want to, or the middle and now even the top. It gives drivers options, and drivers will be the first to tell you they love options.

I love side-by-side racing and we see that a lot now at Bristol. Now, if you are a fan that wants to see 24 cautions and have the field torn up and parked at their haulers, then that's probably not what you are going to see on Sunday.

Now the biggest question for Sunday will be can anyone stop Kyle Busch?