Bristol's Roar: The 2017 Food City 300 Unpacked
A comprehensive exploration of the 22nd race of the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series, highlighting the thrilling action and dominant performances at Bristol Motor Speedway.
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The Race
Event Overview
The 2017 Food City 300 marked the 22nd stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series season and the 36th iteration of this prestigious event. Held on Friday, August 18, 2017, at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, the race spanned its scheduled 300 laps, covering a distance of 159.9 miles (257.3 km). The average speed maintained throughout the race was 64.154 mph (103.246 km/h).
A Dominant Victory
Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, delivered a commanding performance, leading an impressive 186 laps en route to his 91st career NASCAR Xfinity Series win. This victory also marked his fifth win of the 2017 season. The podium was completed by Daniel Suárez, also from Joe Gibbs Racing, who secured a strong second-place finish, and Elliott Sadler of JR Motorsports, who finished third.
Broadcast Details
For fans in the United States, the 2017 Food City 300 was broadcast live on NBCSN, with the commentary team featuring Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte. Radio coverage was provided by the Performance Racing Network, ensuring comprehensive access to the high-speed action for a wide audience.
The Track
Bristol Motor Speedway
The race took place at Bristol Motor Speedway, a renowned NASCAR short track located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, the venue hosted its inaugural NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol is celebrated as one of the most popular tracks on the NASCAR circuit, largely due to its unique and challenging characteristics.
Unique Features
Bristol Motor Speedway is distinguished by several key features that contribute to its legendary status:
- Steep Banking: The track boasts extraordinarily steep banking, which allows for high speeds and intense side-by-side racing.
- All-Concrete Surface: Unlike many tracks, Bristol's surface is entirely concrete, providing a different feel and tire wear characteristics for the drivers.
- Two Pit Roads: A rare feature, the track includes two separate pit roads, adding strategic complexity to pit stops.
- Stadium-like Seating: The seating arrangement encircles the track, creating an immersive, coliseum-like atmosphere for spectators.
It is widely recognized as one of the loudest NASCAR tracks, and despite its official billing as the "World's Fastest Half-Mile," this designation technically belongs to the Volusia Speedway Park dirt track.
Entry
Official Entry List
The 2017 Food City 300 featured a robust field of competitors, each vying for victory on the challenging Bristol short track. The entry list included a mix of seasoned veterans and promising rookie drivers, representing various teams and manufacturers.
Practice
First Practice Session
The initial 55-minute practice session for the 2017 Food City 300 was held on Thursday, August 17, at 1:00 PM EST. Justin Allgaier, representing JR Motorsports, demonstrated early speed by setting the fastest lap. His impressive time of 15.306 seconds translated to an average speed of 125.363 mph (201.752 km/h).
Final Practice Session
The final 55-minute practice session took place later on Thursday, August 17, at 3:00 PM CST. In this session, Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, showcased his prowess by recording the fastest time. His lap of 15.435 seconds achieved an average speed of 124.315 mph (200.066 km/h), signaling his strong form heading into the main event.
Qualify
Qualifying Format & Changes
Qualifying for the 2017 Food City 300 was scheduled for Friday, August 18, at 3:40 PM EST. Typically, for tracks under 2 miles (3.2 km) like Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR employs a multi-car qualifying system consisting of three rounds: a 15-minute first round, followed by a 10-minute second round for the fastest 24 cars, and a 5-minute final round for the top 12 to determine the pole winner.
However, due to inclement weather causing a delayed start, the qualifying format was adjusted to a single 20-minute session. This change added an element of immediate pressure, as drivers had only one opportunity to set their fastest lap.
Pole Position
Despite the modified format, Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, once again demonstrated his exceptional skill by securing the pole position. He achieved a lap time of 15.090 seconds, translating to an average speed of 127.157 mph (204.639 km/h). This performance solidified his strong standing heading into the race.
Unfortunately, Reed Sorenson and Morgan Shepherd were unable to qualify for the event.
Results
Stage 1 & 2 Winners
The 2017 Food City 300 was divided into three stages, with points awarded to the top performers in the first two stages. Kyle Busch showcased his dominance early, winning both Stage 1 (Laps 1-85) and Stage 2 (Laps 86-170), accumulating valuable points and setting the tone for the remainder of the race.
Final Race Results
The final stage, comprising 130 laps, saw Kyle Busch maintain his lead to clinch the victory. The race concluded with several drivers finishing on the lead lap, while others faced various challenges, including accidents and mechanical issues, highlighting the demanding nature of Bristol Motor Speedway.
Standings
Drivers' Championship Standings
Following the intense competition at the 2017 Food City 300, the Drivers' Championship standings saw some shifts, though Elliott Sadler maintained his lead. The race's outcome played a crucial role in shaping the championship battle as the season progressed.
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
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