Food City 500 Fact Sheet

Where undoubtedly the ingredients can be found for deep-fried butter: Food City 500.

Universally beloved by fans and drivers, though, apparently, for different reasons: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Big guns: Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer.

Long shots: Joey Logano, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Montoya, Kasey Kahne, Marcos Ambrose, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr, David Reutimann and Brian Vickers.

The hunch here: Jeff Gordon.

Just the facts, please

            Logano is the youngest pole winner in NASCAR history, one day younger than Kyle Busch when he won his first pole in Fontana, Calif., on Feb. 27, 2005. Logano turns 20 on May 24.

            Two major surprises are in the top 12 in points so far, ninth-place Paul Menard and 12^th-place Scott Speed.

            The Bristol surface has been concrete since 1992. It was resurfaced in 2007.

            Two of Kyle Busch’s four victories occurred here last year.

            Elliott Sadler’s first career victory was here in 2001. He started 38^th, the worst starting position of any BMS winner.

            In five races at Bristol, Dick Hutcherson had an average finish of 2.4.

Snappy quotes

“I’ll take track position anywhere we go these days. I think it’s always important at every track.” – Jeff Gordon.

“You have to be mentally tough. I think a football player said it best: ‘Last week is last week. You have to just go do your job and go do the best you can.’ That’s the definition of being mentally tough.” – Carl Edwards.

“I don’t think the whole issue of Brad (Keselowski) is going to be done. I think that’s something that is going to continue to evolve and it’s always going to be an issue. You guys (media) are going to have a good time with that kid.” – Scott Speed.

“When I first moved to North Carolina, people would always as me if I was kin to Junior (Johnson). I would laugh at the word 'kin,' and then I would think, boy, that would make life a lot easier if I was.” – Jimmie Johnson.

n  Monte Dutton, mdutton@gastongazette.com