Zack and I started on the front row, ready for a great race after some exciting practice laps.
Turn 1, famous for chaos doesn't disappoint as Sandy dumps Earnhardt and Beirschwale off the track.
Scot follows up by sending off Brett Bodine in a similar fashion several laps later.
And Sandy turned it off of the gator. Still no caution.
Further up the order, Dale Jarrett runs over Jimmy Means coming to the last left hander, causing a small pileup, yet still no yellow..
Scot was starting to get his legs under him more soundly and shoved off Derrick Cope
Cope then ran Bonnet off the road while bouncing between the barriers.
Chad was struggling with his ride but starting to make some passes as he gets used to the ride and the course.
After a long many laps, Scot gets lit up as Gant drives it deep into turn 6.
Scot then started getting pummeled by oncoming traffic.
He was helplessly tossed about, losing several places. At least his engine wasn't hit too much.
Pit road was then busy.
On the restart, Zack was working hard to get around some competition that got past him early.
Towards the back, Chad and Sandy were refocusing their efforts as Sandy cut hard through the bus stop.
Scot was also making it through the dust screens while adjusting to his slightly more compact car.
But he'd find tragedy again as he brushed the front of Chad's car, just turning in through the Esses, curmpling his trunk some more.
Chad brushed it off and started his charge to the front. Through the inner loop, he went to war with Brett Bodine.
It was hard fought and he nearly lost it as Brett got a bumper on him, forcing Chad to the grass but he held on.
Scot and Sandy continued to struggle through the bus stop.
Chad was still on a war path, running Christman out wide and nearly pulling the wheels out from under Marcus.
There were complications.
Which continued down the front stretch as the field caught up to the yellow.
Coming to the line, only Zack and I were still racing.
And neither of us were leaving anything out there.
Time to pit and only a few stayed out. Some tactics were starting to come into play around mid race.
On the restart, Zack set a strong pace while I shadowed to keep him close. Just in case we didn't have any yellows.
That almost happened on the restart when Chad just got a touch too strong off of one and came around. All those hard earned positions just wiped.
The next lap around, turn one was still a thorn in many a human's side. Scot locked them up to keep from blowing turn one.
Right behind him, Chad couldn't gather it up before he was in the back of Cope.
Cope was quickly becoming the punching bag of the humans.
On the restart, many humans in the back after pitting.
A near disaster coming through the back stretch as Zack gets too much wheel on the curb and heads right to the wall.
He managed to keep things together and only jostle off the wall, returning to the track without anything lost.
Right in front of them and just behind me, the field was throwing up a dust storm in the bus stop.
I stepped on the gas to get away from that mess.
More laps down and Scot took out Cale Yarborough as he cuts towards the pit and slams the brakes in front of the 29 car. Chad nearly got into the Hardees car but swerves away at the last second.
Racing back to the line, I might have been a little overly aggressive.
On the restart, I didn't really stop and got into Geoff Bodine climbing the hill for another caution.
While there was no pileup, there was definitely congestion.
Through the inner loop, they went 4-wide somehow.
This would top us off for the last time and some interesting pit strategies played out between 2 and 4 tires.
But stricken with a speeding penalty, I was to go to the end of the longest line. I attempted to wait for the end of the field to hurry up but Michael Waltrip refused to pass and I lost patience and continued.
No black flag for passing under yellow but I did have a Combs to deal with as most of the field ended up going around me anyway.
Zack and I were starting our run to the front, anticipating the competition that stayed out to have to fill up one more time.
But Zack got squirrely off of one and came swerving right back.
We came together and Zack straightened out and we were on our charge.
Like through most of the race, we kept tabs on each other as we moved up the order.
A lap or so later, the field was coming in for their last stop. Zack nearly topples over Tim Richmond as he jacks to the right.
That slowed him down and I split the gap to pull the lead.
Behind us, Ken Schradder was stuck into the end of pit road, causing problems and a caution.
Another green and turn one looks scary as Sandy locks them up coming in.
But it would be Scot who blows the corner as he overdrives it off the strip.
And clobbers the inside tire wall. That engine is suffering now.
Sandy didn't look back as he set his crosshairs on ever car in front of him. Potter was the first to feel a hip check.
While the 21 was on the move, Chad was getting rubbed the wrong way by Bodine who didn't appreciate early collisions.
Scot was still struggling with his ride as he came on the scene and let Chad know, it's OK.
The last restart and we had to squirm past Alan Kulwicki who cheated and not only passed the field but then took another lap. He was disciplined.
But it was back to business for Sandy who was crushing opposition.
Sending J.D. McDuffy into the weeds.
Behind him, Chad was still suffering as he wheelhopped out of the loop and cranked the other way. A terrible fall from grace as he was making such a strong run.
Sandy was still crushing cars as he ran up on Michael Waltrip. No surprise that we'd see the All Pro car in tatters with Smith running up on him. This would bring out a caution. You can't just go spinning the whole field without consequence.
And he didn't stop there. On the run to the yellow, he was in full form and just beat out Kyle Petty by a toe nail, ending up with 6th after starting back in the field.
Upon finishing 2nd, Zack was aggravated with the results and called foul on the events of that caution speeding penalty and my lack of addressing it, even though I did make attempts. I did review the replay and granted him that I could have slowed down more to allow the field through. Thus, I penalized myself a lap. A harsh judgement but one that would be expected of any competitor breaking the rules. If nothing else, it makes the points play more interesting.
Now on to Bristol's night race.
Results
Session: Qualifying
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 013 | T Nadz | 1:16.745 |
| 2 | 023 | Z Webster | 1:17.400 |
| 3 | 15 | R Rudd | 1:20.256 |
| 4 | 11 | T Labonte | 1:20.731 |
| 5 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | 1:20.900 |
| 6 | 17 | D Waltrip | 1:20.961 |
| 7 | 26 | M Shepherd | 1:20.985 |
| 8 | 27 | R Wallace | 1:21.058 |
| 9 | 5 | G Bodine | 1:21.107 |
| 10 | 22 | B Allison | 1:21.150 |
| 11 | 7 | A Kulwicki | 1:21.237 |
| 12 | 21 | K Petty | 1:21.300 |
| 13 | 43 | R Petty | 1:21.311 |
| 14 | 28 | D Allison | 1:21.321 |
| 15 | 35 | B Parsons | 1:21.381 |
| 16 | 88 | B Baker | 1:21.453 |
| 17 | 90 | K Schrader | 1:21.454 |
| 18 | 75 | N Bonnett | 1:21.533 |
| 19 | 25 | T Richmond | 1:21.541 |
| 20 | 52 | J Means | 1:21.590 |
| 21 | 55 | P Parsons | 1:21.639 |
| 22 | 4 | R Wilson | 1:21.647 |
| 23 | 71 | D Marcis | 1:21.670 |
| 24 | 67 | B Arrington | 1:21.689 |
| 25 | 18 | D Jarrett | 1:21.732 |
| 26 | 44 | S Marlin | 1:21.761 |
| 27 | 70 | J McDuffie | 1:21.931 |
| 28 | 64 | R Combs | 1:21.987 |
| 29 | 62 | S Christman | 1:22.124 |
| 30 | 9 | B Elliott | 1:22.236 |
| 31 | 81 | M Potter | 1:22.464 |
| 32 | 19 | D Cope | 1:22.476 |
| 33 | 30 | M Waltrip | 1:22.506 |
| 34 | 29 | C Yarborough | 1:22.612 |
| 35 | 1 | B Bodine | 1:22.820 |
| 36 | 50 | G Sacks | 1:23.021 |
| 37 | 83 | L Speed | 1:23.554 |
| 38 | 77 | E Bierschwale | 1:23.879 |
| 39 | 33 | H Gant | 1:25.360 |
| 40 | 3 | D Earnhardt | 1:26.711 |
| 41 | 029 | M Max | -- |
| 42 | 021 | T Bear | -- |
| 43 | 20 | C Ferguson | -- |
Weather: Clear, 84 °F, Southeast 5 mph
Session: Happy Hour
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 013 | T Nadz | 1:17.313 |
| 2 | 023 | Z Webster | 1:18.769 |
| 3 | 029 | M Max | 1:19.595 |
| 4 | 021 | T Bear | 1:21.249 |
| 5 | 9 | B Elliott | 1:21.428 |
| 6 | 35 | B Parsons | 1:21.514 |
| 7 | 27 | R Wallace | 1:21.604 |
| 8 | 43 | R Petty | 1:21.734 |
| 9 | 3 | D Earnhardt | 1:21.845 |
| 10 | 11 | T Labonte | 1:21.870 |
| 11 | 7 | A Kulwicki | 1:21.870 |
| 12 | 21 | K Petty | 1:21.941 |
| 13 | 20 | C Ferguson | 1:22.009 |
| 14 | 17 | D Waltrip | 1:22.189 |
| 15 | 26 | M Shepherd | 1:22.234 |
| 16 | 33 | H Gant | 1:22.361 |
| 17 | 15 | R Rudd | 1:22.383 |
| 18 | 28 | D Allison | 1:22.404 |
| 19 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | 1:22.423 |
| 20 | 55 | P Parsons | 1:22.447 |
| 21 | 30 | M Waltrip | 1:22.494 |
| 22 | 44 | S Marlin | 1:22.560 |
| 23 | 62 | S Christman | 1:22.569 |
| 24 | 71 | D Marcis | 1:22.581 |
| 25 | 75 | N Bonnett | 1:22.608 |
| 26 | 4 | R Wilson | 1:22.700 |
| 27 | 5 | G Bodine | 1:22.703 |
| 28 | 25 | T Richmond | 1:22.723 |
| 29 | 64 | R Combs | 1:22.725 |
| 30 | 88 | B Baker | 1:22.731 |
| 31 | 1 | B Bodine | 1:22.802 |
| 32 | 70 | J McDuffie | 1:23.201 |
| 33 | 18 | D Jarrett | 1:23.225 |
| 34 | 77 | E Bierschwale | 1:23.252 |
| 35 | 90 | K Schrader | 1:23.295 |
| 36 | 19 | D Cope | 1:23.396 |
| 37 | 67 | B Arrington | 1:23.545 |
| 38 | 50 | G Sacks | 1:23.599 |
| 39 | 81 | M Potter | 1:24.146 |
| 40 | 29 | C Yarborough | 1:24.281 |
| 41 | 52 | J Means | 1:24.390 |
| 42 | 22 | B Allison | 1:26.350 |
| 43 | 83 | L Speed | 1:26.586 |
Weather: Clear, 90 °F, North 21 mph
Session: Race
OFFICIAL STANDINGS
| F | S | # | DRIVER | INTERVAL | LAPS | LED | POINTS | STATUS |
| 1 | 2 | 023 | Z Webster | 82.000 | 37 | 4 | 180 | Running |
| 2 | 3 | 15 | R Rudd | -0.94 | 37 | 0 | 170 | Running |
| 3 | 25 | 18 | D Jarrett | -1.29 | 37 | 0 | 165 | Running |
| 4 | 6 | 17 | D Waltrip | -1.63 | 37 | 0 | 160 | Running |
| 5 | 8 | 27 | R Wallace | -1.97 | 37 | 0 | 155 | Running |
| 6 | 42 | 021 | T Bear | -2.88 | 37 | 0 | 146 | Running |
| 7 | 12 | 21 | K Petty | -3.25 | 37 | 0 | 142 | Running |
| 8 | 32 | 19 | D Cope | -3.60 | 37 | 0 | 138 | Running |
| 9 | 13 | 43 | R Petty | -3.92 | 37 | 0 | 134 | Running |
| 10 | 7 | 26 | M Shepherd | -4.69 | 37 | 1 | 135 | Running |
| 11 | 21 | 55 | P Parsons | -5.08 | 37 | 0 | 127 | Running |
| 12 | 30 | 9 | B Elliott | -5.42 | 37 | 0 | 124 | Running |
| 13 | 15 | 35 | B Parsons | -5.95 | 37 | 0 | 121 | Running |
| 14 | 4 | 11 | T Labonte | -6.55 | 37 | 0 | 118 | Running |
| 15 | 16 | 88 | B Baker | -7.36 | 37 | 0 | 115 | Running |
| 16 | 10 | 22 | B Allison | -8.26 | 37 | 0 | 112 | Running |
| 17 | 11 | 7 | A Kulwicki | -8.60 | 37 | 7 | 109 | Running |
| 18 | 19 | 25 | T Richmond | -8.97 | 37 | 0 | 106 | Running |
| 19 | 18 | 75 | N Bonnett | -9.60 | 37 | 0 | 103 | Running |
| 20 | 39 | 33 | H Gant | -10.39 | 37 | 0 | 100 | Running |
| 21 | 33 | 30 | M Waltrip | -11.29 | 37 | 0 | 97 | Running |
| 22 | 24 | 67 | B Arrington | -12.38 | 37 | 0 | 94 | Running |
| 23 | 26 | 44 | S Marlin | -14.40 | 37 | 0 | 91 | Running |
| 24 | 37 | 83 | L Speed | -16.41 | 37 | 0 | 88 | Running |
| 25 | 29 | 62 | S Christman | -17.70 | 37 | 0 | 85 | Running |
| 26 | 5 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | -18.39 | 37 | 2 | 87 | Running |
| 27 | 38 | 77 | E Bierschwale | -19.67 | 37 | 0 | 79 | Running |
| 28 | 35 | 1 | B Bodine | -20.52 | 37 | 0 | 76 | Running |
| 29 | 43 | 20 | C Ferguson | -21.68 | 37 | 0 | 73 | Running |
| 30 | 41 | 029 | M Max | -22.27 | 37 | 0 | 70 | Running |
| 31 | 36 | 50 | G Sacks | -23.67 | 37 | 0 | 67 | Running |
| 32 | 28 | 64 | R Combs | -27.12 | 37 | 0 | 64 | Running |
| 33 | 27 | 70 | J McDuffie | -27.60 | 37 | 0 | 61 | Running |
| 34 | 1 | 013 | T Nadz | -1L | 36 | 17* | 68 | Running |
| 35 | 31 | 81 | M Potter | -2L | 35 | 0 | 58 | Running |
| 36 | 40 | 3 | D Earnhardt | -2L | 35 | 0 | 55 | Running |
| 37 | 23 | 71 | D Marcis | -2L | 35 | 0 | 52 | Running |
| 38 | 14 | 28 | D Allison | -2L | 35 | 0 | 49 | Running |
| 39 | 9 | 5 | G Bodine | -10L | 27 | 6 | 51 | Accident |
| 40 | 17 | 90 | K Schrader | -10L | 27 | 0 | 43 | Accident |
| 41 | 34 | 29 | C Yarborough | -11L | 26 | 0 | 40 | Retired |
| 42 | 20 | 52 | J Means | -20L | 17 | 0 | 37 | Accident |
| 43 | 22 | 4 | R Wilson | -24L | 13 | 0 | 34 | Retired |
Caution Flags: 9 (16 laps)
Lead Changes: 8 (6 drivers)
Weather: Clear, 89 °F, Northeast 24 mph
Pitstop Frequency: 3x
AI Strength: 75%
PENALTIES
| LAP | # | INFRACTION | PENALTY |
| 2 | 20 | Cutting the inner loop | Stop and go |
| 4 | 20 | Speeding in pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 4 | 20 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 6 | 029 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 15 | 20 | Speeding in pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 15 | 029 | Speeding in pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 17 | 20 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 18 | 20 | Speeding in pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 21 | 20 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 26 | 013 | Speeding in pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 26 | 023 | Passing on the inside | Stop and go |
| 27 | 20 | Speeding in pits | Drive through pit lane |
| 30 | 20 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 32 | 029 | Speeding in pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 38 | 20 | Smoking Engine | Pit for repairs |
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