The importance of starting up front at Bristol

Starting up front is very important at Bristol. The last 11 Bristol races have been won from a top 12 starting position. The average starting position of a winner over that stretch is 5.8. The last two Bristol spring races have been won from the pole, and the last three August races have been won from the 5th place starting position.

Bristol has turned into a “track position” race because passing has become extremely difficult. This spring at Bristol if a driver was caught in the low-line they were going to get freight trained by until they were able to get up to the high-line.

Starting up front at Bristol doesn’t always guarantee you’ll finish up front. This spring the attrition rate was very high and only 4 drivers who started in the top ten finished in the top ten. The average starting position of a top ten starter this spring was 16.9.

Last August when the attrition rate wasn’t as high it proved itself to be very important. The first top 8 finishers in that race all started in the top ten.

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