Following a week off, the NASCAR Cup series comes to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500. The legendary track is oval-shaped and just 0.53 miles long. The high banking is listed at 36 degrees, but that has been disputed– likely closer to 26 degrees. The track also features two sets of pits. Bristol has a history of aggressive driving as the drivers can easily make contact in the track’s close quarters.

The defending champion of this race is Jeff Burton. The most recent winner was Carl Edwards, who won here in August of last year.

Kevin Harvick – (last season: second @ Food City 500, fourth @ Sharpie 500)
In 16 career starts, Harvick has finished in the top-five a whopping nine times. Among all drivers, he owns the best average finishing position (9.6). In just the March races, Harvick owns an average finish is 6.6 and has finished outside of the top-10 only once– as a rookie.

Matt Kenseth – (last season: 10th @ Food City 500, ninth @ Sharpie 500)
Over the last five years (10 starts), Kenseth has complied seven top-10s and two wins. He has not finished worse than 16th since 2001. In March races only, Kenseth owns an average finish of 8.8.

In salary cap games, both drivers are affordable and will allow for a lot of flexibility. On the season, Harvick and Kenseth are two of six drivers with a pair of top-fives. With good starts to the season plus their consistent numbers at Thunder Valley, both drivers make a lot of sense in all formats and should be universally loved.

There are three drivers that are very likable for this race:

Tony Stewart – (last season: 14th @ Food City 500, eighth @ Sharpie 500)
In the last three March races, Stewart has led a minimum of 245 laps per race. Unfortunately, his finishes in those races ranged from 12th to 35th. Stewart has been very consistent thus far and looks poised for a strong race.

Denny Hamlin – (last season: sixth @ Food City 500, third @ Sharpie 500)
If you ignore his 2007 DNF, Hamlin has a career average finish of 8.6 at Bristol. Hamlin has stumbled a bit out of the gates, this is a great opportunity to deliver a strong performance.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – (last season: fifth @ Food City 500, 18th @ Sharpie 500)
Since 2001, Earnhardt has finished 18th or better at Bristol. Over the past five years, his average finish of 7.4 is tops among all drivers. Which Earnhardt shows up this week is the only concern.

In allocation leagues, avoid burning early season starts on the big names. This week I hate Carl Edwards, despite his great numbers at Bristol. Stay competitive early in the season with “lesser drivers” thus saving the elite drivers for heavy usage later in the season, when they put on their best performances. Take last season for example, Edwards won six races in August and September, including the evening Bristol race.

L2H results last week @ Kobalt Tools 500
Loves: Carl Edwards (third), Jimmie Johnson (ninth) Kurt Busch simply outclassed everyone.
Likes:Tony Stewart (eighth), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (11th) Eight has been Smoke’s lucky number thus far. Earnhardt with 10th and 11th place finishes in back-to-back races.
Hate: Ryan Newman – 22nd

L2H 2009 Season Tally:
Love/Like average finish: 16

I’m ditching the average finish for the Hates simply because the majority of the selections are based more on strategy than thinking the driver will have an abysmal finish. However, I will continue to post them in the weekly results.