Bristol is about determination. Drivers have to muscle their way around the track and bully their way through traffic. This is a take-no-prisoner kind of course and Newman is a give-no-quarter kind of driver. If he does not wind up on the lead lap and in the top 10, it will not be because of a lack of effort. One would think that kind of statement should be generic for all NASCAR drivers—but it isn’t. Newman is a throwback and this is a classic track.
The short tracks are often dominated by sleepers and dark horses. It is not always about the stats, but looking between the lines, which is why this week’s preview is important.