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Bliss, Conway Battling For Top 35 Status
It’s a race within a race this Sunday at Bristol, where the checkered flag won’t be the only goal for some NASCAR Sprint Cup teams. The Food City 500 is the season’s fifth event. It’s also the last that will use 2009 owner points to guarantee the top 35 starting spots. Beginning next Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, the top 35 teams in the 2010 owner points will be guaranteed starting spots each week.
All others must qualify on time.
So who’s feeling confident?
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The No. 71 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet owned by Kevin Buckler and driven by Bobby Labonte might be the most comfortable, although that’s relative since points can shift with each lap.
The No. 71 is 30th in the current owner standings, 52 points ahead of 35th. Penske Racing’s Sam Hornish Jr. (No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge) is 31st, 49 points ahead of the cut-off line. Front Row Motorsports’ David Gilliland (No. 38 Taco Bell Ford) is 32nd, 42 points ahead of 35th. Hornish’s teammate, Brad Keselowski, is 33rd, only 19 points ahead of 35th. Gilliand’s teammate, Travis Kvapil (No. 34 Long John Silver’s Ford), may be the most uncomfortable of those drivers above 35th; he’s 34th, only nine points ahead of the cut-off.
Speaking of suspense, Mike Bliss (No. 36 Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet) is tied with Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Kevin Conway (No. 37 Extenze Ford) for 35th. Outside the bubble, Boris Said (No. 26 Southern Pride Trucking Ford) is 37th, 24 points out; Robby Gordon (No. 7 Warner Music Nashville/Blake Shelton Toyota) is 38th, 27 points out; and Max Papis (No. 13 GEICO Toyota) is 39th, 29 points out.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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