BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MARCH 26: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 26, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Bristol Dirt Practice Results: March 26, 2021 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Shane Walters
NASCAR Cup Series cars touch the dirt for the first time in 50
years; Bristol practice is in the books
Next up, the NASCAR Cup Series takes to the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track. This first round of practice is the first time Cup cars have run on dirt since 1970.
View full 2021 Bristol Dirt practice results below.
Seven NASCAR Cup Series ran Truck practice just moments ago. Ahead of this session, the track has dried out significantly since the beginning of the day.
Cup Practice Report
Duration: 50 Minutes
Joe Gibbs Racing is the first to the track. Kyle Busch jumps right to the cushion.
3 minutes in, the timing reads Alex Bowman (20.160), Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano. 4 of those drivers run last week’s Bristol Dirt Nationals.
40 minutes remain, we have a caution for the first spin.
35 minutes remain, Kurt Busch beats on the rear bumper of Chris Windom. Windom’s right rear quarter panel has been dislodged.
33 minutes remain, Martin Truex Jr spins through the slick in turn one and the caution is back out.
Most of the field is glued to the inside lane of the track. Not many are exploring the higher lanes as the track continues to wear out.
15 minutes remain, Byron tries to work the outside to move around Suarez. He loses four car length and does nothing but through all the loose dirt into the air.
Tires are wearing out fast. Byron turned 36 laps and he ran the edge of the ridges clear off the tread. These are new bias-ply tires for this event, the first time since 1989.
Late in this session, Christopher Bell jumps to the 2nd on the board.
3 minutes remain, JJ Yeley spins and the caution is out.
Alex Bowman wins Bristol Dirt practice!
Bristol Dirt Practice Results NASCAR Cup Series March 26, 2021
Session Time: 4:05pm ET
Pos | Driver | Best Time
1. Alex Bowman 20.155
2. Christopher Bell 20.230
3. Kyle Busch 20.248
4. Denny Hamlin 20.266
5. Kyle Larson 20.314
6. Chase Elliott 20.334
7. Joey Logano 20.434
8. Cole Custer 20.523
9. William Byron 20.535
10. Chase Briscoe 20.548
11. Ryan Newman 20.550
12. Chris Buescher 20.557
13. Martin Truex Jr 20.568
14. Kevin Harvick 20.574
15. Tyler Reddick 20.595
16. Corey LaJoie 20.626
17. Ryan Preece 20.650
18. Ross Chastain 20.707
19. Matt DiBenedetto 20.711
20. Aric Almirola 20.717
21. Anthony Alfredo 20.728
22. Kurt Busch 20.751
23. Erik Jones 20.760
24. Daniel Suarez 20.771
25. JJ Yeley 20.776
26. Brad Keselowski 20.781
27. Bubba Wallace 20.794
28. Ty Dillon 20.796
29. Stewart Friesen 20.810
30. Michael McDowell 20.818
31. Ryan Blaney 20.838
32. Austin Dillon 20.840
33. Quin Houff 20.852
34. Chris Windom 20.866
35. Ricky Stenhouse Jr 20.898
36. Josh Bilicki 20.998
37. Shane Golobic 21.012
38. Mike Marlar 21.109
39. Cody Ware 21.112
5 Lap Averages Bristol Dirt Practice Results NASCAR Cup Series March 26, 2021